Episode 732: Greenland, AUKUS, and the Arctic, with Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan

Waves of different groups seeking new homes from east and west have arrived and disappeared on Greenland’s hostile shores for thousands of years. In the modern era of nation states, it is Greenland’s unique location and potential resources that are drawing attention once again as her strategic position once again brings her to the front.

Today’s Midrats Podcast is going to start there with our guest, Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan.We will kick off with her latest book as a touchstone to our conversation, So You Want to Own Greenland?: Lessons from the Vikings to Trump.

Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan is a senior fellow with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and an expert associate of the French Ministry of Armed Forces’ Institute for Strategic Research. Most recently she was Head of Research for the Royal Australian Navy (Department of Defence). Dr Buchanan is co-founder of the polar warfare program (Project 6633) at the Modern War Institute of the West Point Military Academy. Before joining Australia’s Defence Department, Dr. Buchanan was Lecturer of Strategic Studies for the Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Australian War College. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. in Russian Arctic Strategy and completed her post-doctoral studies as a Maritime Fellow at the NATO Defense College in Rome. She has published widely on geopolitics, most recently with Australian Foreign Affairs, International Affairs, War on the Rocks, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, The Australian, and The American Conservative. Dr. Buchanan has been a Visiting Scholar with the Brookings Institution and was an analyst with Royal Dutch Shell. Elizabeth has three published books:: Russian Energy Strategy in Asia and Red Arctic: Russian Arctic Strategy under Putin. In addition to, So you want to own Greenland, she also has an upcoming book, Competitive Cooperation at the Ends of the Earth.

Show Links

• So You Want to Own Greenland?: Lessons from the Vikings to Trump, by Elizabeth Buchanan
• Australia must pivot to ‘pit-stop power’ for AUKUS to work, by Elizabeth Buchanan
• China's parade of military might raises big questions about the AUKUS muddle, by Laura Tingle
• Episode 708: The Icebreaker Imperative, with Peter Rybski
• Bering Strait Tunnel

Summary

In this episode of Midrats, Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan discusses her book on Greenland's strategic importance, the historical context of U.S.-Greenland relations, and the implications of China's growing influence in the Arctic and Antarctic. The conversation explores Denmark's role in Greenland's future, the challenges of independence, and the significance of AUKUS in the context of U.S.-Australia relations. The discussion emphasizes the need for a strategic approach to the polar regions amidst great power competition.

Takeaways

• The U.S. has a long-standing interest in Greenland, dating back to WWII.
• Denmark's control over Greenland is complicated by post-colonial dynamics.
• China's presence in the Arctic is growing and poses a challenge to U.S. interests.
• Australia's role in AUKUS is as a 'pit stop power' for U.S. submarines.
• The future of Greenland may hinge on its independence from Denmark.
• Public perception of Greenland's relationship with the U.S. is often disingenuous.
• The Arctic is becoming a global commons, complicating international relations.
• Australia faces challenges in defending its vast territory against Chinese encroachment.
• The U.S. needs to adapt its strategy to the changing dynamics in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Chapters

00:00: Introduction
01:41: Exploring Greenland's Strategic Importance
05:44: Historical Context of Greenland and U.S. Relations
12:14: Greenland's Future and Independence
16:42: Denmark's Role and Challenges
21:30: China's Influence in the Arctic and Antarctic
29:13: Great Power Competition in the Polar Regions
34:44: AUKUS and Australia's Strategic Position
41:15: Future of U.S.-Australia Relations