First of all, I would like to ask you a question, what are the countries with large territorial areas that you know? I guess Russia, Canada, China, the United States may come to mind, right? So, if I say that Denmark is also a country with a large land area, will you think I am joking? If Denmark is really a big country, then why is Denmark disguised as a small country?
Where is Denmark?
Denmark is located in the north of Europe, at the intersection of the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, and its capital, Copenhagen, is known as the "Northwest Europe Bridge" and is the transportation hub of Western and Northern Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the south, the North Sea to the west, and Norway and Sweden to the north.
Location of Denmark
The location of its capital, Copenhagen, is interesting and unique, it is located on the Danish island of Zealand. This city is not only the capital of Denmark, but also its largest city and port, and bicycles can be seen on the streets, so it is also known as the "city of bicycles".
But when we talk about Denmark, the first thing that probably comes to mind is its wonderful fairy tales, rowing sports, and even Lego. However, you might be surprised to learn that Denmark is the twelfth largest country in the world by territory. Denmark's territory covers more than 2 million square kilometers, which is much larger than many people usually think, because Denmark has the world's largest island, Greenland, which covers more than 2 million square kilometers.
Greenland is a large area
How big is that number? For example, Xinjiang, the largest province in the mainland, has an area of only 1.66 million square kilometers, while Greenland's territory is even larger than Xinjiang! Isn't such Denmark a veritable power?
So why did Denmark choose to appear in front of the world as a small country and hide its "great power" status? To understand why, let's look at Greenland.
Greenland is deserted but rich
Located on a huge island between North America and Europe, Greenland is the largest island in the world. Its winding coastline is a staggering 35,000 kilometers long, and the total area of the island is about 2.16 million square kilometers.
Greenland's natural conditions are very harsh, cold all year round, most of the area is covered by glaciers, the average thickness of the ice is more than 2 km, the west side of the island is separated from Canada by the sea, the cold Arctic Ocean to the north, the vast Atlantic Ocean to the south, and the Danish Strait across the sea from Iceland to the east.
Location of Greenland
Such a large island, but only a small area of the coastal zone suitable for human habitation, but the population here is only 56,000, which can be said to be sparsely populated. Although the Danish government has carried out some development in Greenland, the degree of development is very limited due to natural conditions. Most of the island's inhabitants are indigenous Inuit.
Despite its harsh environment, Greenland is considered the world's largest mineral treasure trove and is estimated to be rich in minerals such as coal, copper, gold, rare earth elements and zinc. Among them, rare earth resources are particularly abundant, with preliminary estimates of about 38.5 million tons, accounting for a quarter of the global total. As a result, Greenland attracts the attention of many rich people around the world, who come here in search of wealth. The United States has also made several attempts to buy Greenland, but the Danish government has refused.
Greenland is rich in mineral resources
After rejecting U.S. offers, Denmark began seeking foreign investors to develop Greenland. This has attracted competition from Germany, France, Canada, Australia and other countries. But in the end, it was the mainland that successfully obtained the rights to mine iron ore in northern Greenland, which is worth up to $2.35 billion. At present, mainland companies are also negotiating with the governments of Greenland and Denmark on the development of uranium and other resources such as rare earths.
Low-key Denmark
Although Denmark is big, it is very "low-key", and the low-key makes people forget that he is really big. Knowing Denmark and Greenland, let's see why Denmark chose to "hide" itself.
In fact, from a historical point of view, Denmark has not always been what it is now. Over the centuries, Denmark, like other European powers, had its own colonies. In the process of exploring new shipping routes, the Danes reached many distant places and established their colonies there, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic. Despite the wave of independence from colonies around the world after the end of World War II, Denmark managed to retain these two overseas territories.
Location of the Faroe Islands
The reason why Denmark is so low-key and uses the "small country strategy" to hide itself is actually "bitter".
First, Denmark's "small country strategy" has historical reasons. Denmark was a European power in the 19th century with numerous overseas territories. However, in the mid-to-late 19th century, Denmark experienced a series of wars and territorial losses, losing many overseas territories. In order to prevent it from becoming a target of other powers again, Denmark has chosen a low-key strategy, it retains Greenland and the Faroe Islands, but internationally only appears as the size and population of Denmark itself, avoiding the attention and threat of other countries.
Danish countryside
Second, Denmark's "small country strategy" has its geographical considerations. Denmark itself is located at the southernmost tip of Scandinavia, and its geographical location makes it impossible to expand its territory in the same way as other powers. Greenland and the Faroe Islands, although they are Danish territories, are far from the Danish mainland, and Denmark does not have enough strength to maintain the governance of these distant territories. Therefore, Denmark has opted for a de facto "divide and rule" strategy, which gives Greenland and the Faroe Islands a large amount of autonomy, while internationally Denmark appears as a small country, avoiding conflicts and conflicts caused by territorial issues.
Geographical location of Denmark
Finally, Denmark's "small country strategy" has its political considerations. As a European country, Denmark needs to maintain good relations with other European countries to protect its national interests. If Denmark emerges as a great power, it may trigger suspicion and confrontation in other countries. And by appearing as a small country, Denmark can not only avoid such doubts and confrontations, but also gain the sympathy and support of other countries. At the same time, Denmark can also use this "image of a small country" to play a neutral and mediating role in international affairs, thereby enhancing its international influence.
Greenland aurora
Overall, Denmark's "small country strategy" is a complex combination of historical, geographical, and political factors. It is not without "great power dreams", but it has chosen a more prudent and low-key strategy in the face of real challenges. Through this strategy, Denmark can both protect its national interests and play an active role in international affairs. It is precisely because of this that Denmark acts "low-key" and does not count the area of Greenland, so as not to cause others to worry, which is a helplessness!
What do you think about this, welcome to leave a message to discuss!