Podcast Summary: The Indicator from Planet Money – "Add to Cart: Greenland"

Release Date: January 21, 2025
Host: NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money
Hosts: Adrian Max and Waylon Wong
Guest: Stephen Press, History Professor at Stanford University
Topic: Donald Trump's proposal to purchase Greenland and the historical context of U.S. sovereignty purchases.

1. Introduction to Trump's Proposal

The episode opens with Adrian Max introducing a bold political development: Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, and one of his significant proposals includes the acquisition of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

• Adrian Max [00:11]: "Donald Trump is now officially the 47th president of the United States. And if Trump gets his way, what we even think of as the United States might come to look very different."

• Waylon Wong [00:30]: Donald Trump stated, “We need Greenland for national security purposes. I've been told that for a long time, long before I even ran” (00:30).

Trump’s rationale centers on national security, stemming from Greenland’s strategic geographic location and its natural resources.

2. Understanding Sovereignty Purchases

Waylon Wong delves into the concept of sovereignty purchases, explaining that the idea of one country buying territory from another is not unprecedented.

• Waylon Wong [01:10]: "Can the US Just buy itself a country? Is that a thing? Turns out when you look at our history, it is absolutely a thing. It's called a sovereignty purchase."

• Adrian Max [01:20]: He outlines that the episode will explore how large land deals have historically shaped the United States and why purchasing Greenland today is more complex.

Stephen Press, a history professor, provides an academic perspective on sovereignty purchases, emphasizing their deep historical roots and the complexities involved.

• Stephen Press [03:34]: "I don't endorse the specific talk about Greenland that has come from President Trump. I do, however, think there's a really deep history here that involves the United States and really a very large portion of the world."

3. Historical Examples of U.S. Sovereignty Purchases

The hosts and Stephen Press explore various historical instances where the United States acquired significant territories through purchases, treaties, and, at times, coercion.

• Adrian Max [04:33]: "If you just kind of quickly add things up, you're talking about an enormous portion of territory, past and present."

• Waylon Wong [04:52]: "Stephen says about 40% of the United States was acquired through sovereignty purchases."

Key Historical Deals Discussed:

• Louisiana Purchase (1803):

  • Adrian Max [05:03]: "In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson persuaded Congress to fund the Louisiana purchase for about $15 million. France sold off a chunk of its empire, this vast territory in the middle of the continent."
  • Stephen Press [05:26]: Highlights the exclusion of indigenous rights in these transactions, noting, “The French gave the US Exclusive authority to take control of the territory from indigenous tribes. Whether they did that through contracts or through force, that's problematic.”

• Gadsden Purchase (1853):

  • Waylon Wong [05:47]: "As part of these agreements, Mexico ceded over half its territory to the US in exchange for $25 million and taking on some back debt."

• Alaska Purchase (1867):

  • Waylon Wong [06:58]: "In the late 1860s, Russia was contemplating selling off the territory of Alaska. For about $7.2 million, the US did just that."

• Other Territories:

  • Waylon Wong [04:46]: "Alaska, Florida, California, and basically the whole middle section of the continental U.S. today because the U.S. bought the rights to that land from some other colonial power."

These acquisitions have significantly shaped the current geographical and political landscape of the United States.

4. The Complexity of Modern Sovereignty Purchases

The discussion shifts to why the U.S. acquiring Greenland today would face substantial challenges compared to historical purchases.

• Adrian Max [08:42]: "Probably not [possible]. At least not how it used to go down."

Key Challenges Highlighted:

• Self-Determination and Consent:

  • Stephen Press [09:05]: "Any arrangement that doesn't really kind of center the potential benefits and consent of the affected people is really flawed, not just practically speaking, but also morally."

• Public Opinion and Perception:

  • Modern international norms emphasize the rights of populations to self-governance, making unilateral purchases morally and ethically questionable.

• Local Sentiments in Greenland:

  • Adrian Max [09:23]: "Greenland has said that the country is not for sale, but it is open to doing business with."

• Denmark's Stance:

  • Even if Denmark were open to selling Greenland, the preference of Greenland’s residents for independence complicates the matter.

5. Modern Equivalents to Sovereignty Purchases

While outright purchases are rare today, Stephen Press notes that similar dynamics persist through different mechanisms.

• Adrian Max [09:42]: "They've sort of lived on in a smaller scale and perhaps by a different name. For example, a lot of countries will pay other countries for the right to install military bases."

• Waylon Wong [09:42]: Suggests that the U.S. might engage in "sovereignty leases" similar to Adrian Max’s description.

This indicates that while traditional sovereignty purchases are less feasible, countries still engage in strategic agreements that echo historical land acquisitions.

6. Conclusion

The episode concludes by reflecting on the evolution of international relations and territorial acquisitions. Adrian Max and Waylon Wong underscore that the historical context of sovereignty purchases provides valuable insights into current geopolitical strategies, but the ethical and practical landscape has fundamentally changed, making large-scale territorial acquisitions like the proposed purchase of Greenland highly improbable today.

• Adrian Max [10:13]: "This episode was produced by Cooper Katz McKim with engineering by Sina Alafredo and Neil Rauch."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Donald Trump [00:30]: “We need Greenland for national security purposes. I've been told that for a long time, long before I even ran.”
  — Highlighting the motivation behind the proposed purchase.

• Stephen Press [03:34]: “I don't endorse the specific talk about Greenland that has come from President Trump. I do, however, think there's a really deep history here that involves the United States and really a very large portion of the world.”
  — Emphasizing the historical context of sovereignty purchases.

• Stephen Press [09:05]: “Any arrangement that doesn't really kind of center the potential benefits and consent of the affected people is really flawed, not just practically speaking, but also morally.”
  — Addressing the ethical implications of territorial acquisitions.

This episode of The Indicator from Planet Money provides a comprehensive exploration of Donald Trump's proposal to purchase Greenland, situating it within the broader historical framework of U.S. sovereignty purchases. Through expert insights and detailed historical analysis, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the complexities and ethical considerations inherent in such geopolitical moves.