The Pour Over TPO Explains: Greenland 101
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Jan 24, 2026 A lively crash course on Greenland’s geography, population, and unique Inuit culture. The history of Danish control and why full independence is complicated are unpacked. Strategic importance, Arctic shipping lanes, and mineral and oil prospects get attention. Listeners hear about past U.S. interest in buying Greenland and what legal or military options would actually entail.
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Greenland's Current Political Status
- Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark with wide local control since 2009.
- Denmark retains foreign policy, defense, and monetary control while Greenland owns resources and can declare independence.
Indigenous Majority Shapes Greenland
- Ninety percent of Greenland's population is Inuit, making it one of the few places with an indigenous majority.
- Inuit culture, language, and stewardship of land shape Greenlandic political priorities.
Danish Subsidies Keep Greenland Afloat
- Denmark subsidizes Greenland heavily, supplying over half of Greenland's annual budget.
- That subsidy helps explain Greenland's reluctance to pursue full independence despite legal ability to do so.