Twelve months ago – it feels longer – Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the USA.
Since that time many controversial happenings have had the White House and it’s occupant as their source. The key “happening” that is ongoing at the time of writing is the Greenland Crisis.
I have commented upon the difficulties surrounding annexation of territory in the 21st Century before, but the seriousness of the situation demands a fuller dissertation. Given the apparent lack of knowledge by the main protagonist (Mr Trump) herewith the Dummies Guide to Annexation:
Previous commentary upon this subject presumed a certain level of knowledge and competence. This more detailed text starts at the very basics!
So: Acquisition of another state’s sovereign territory can be split into two basic forms. Territory acquired WITH the consent of the other state and territory acquired WITHOUT the consent of the other state.
We will begin with territory transferred with consent.
In these cases an agreement is reached between the two sovereign states and the territory is ceded by one and annexed by the other via a Treaty. This treaty is signed by the High Representatives of each contracting party and following this each sovereign state ratifies the treaty by legislation in their respective legislatures.
NB: This is ALWAYS the best way of transferring territory.
In the case of Greenland acquisition (by the USA) is fraught with difficulties. Chiefly the extreme unwillingness of Greenland and Denmark for US annexation. Mr Trump’s campaign of escalating tariffs is essentially the only practical leverage at Mr Trump’s disposal as military occupation presents great difficulty as many senior US officers will resign their commissions rather than take part in such an operation. In addition, Mr Trump will meet vociferous opposition in both houses of Congress.
Were Mr Trump to pursue annexation by force of arms and assuming he could find enough serving personnel willing to carry this out, he will have great difficulty in securing the agreement of Congress to a Bill of Annexation. That Congress vote approval for this measure is essential as without it Greenland will remain a possession of Denmark under the military occupation of the USA. Assuming that Mr Trump was able to have Congress to approve a Bill of Annexation enabling him to sign it into US Law as an Act, that would NOT be the end of the matter! This because after annexation by statute, the USA would have to seek and obtain recognition of the newly acquired territory as a US possession by other sovereign states.
Were Mr Trump to pursue annexation without consent and were he to be in the position of signing a Greenland Annexation Act into law, the number of nations willing to recognise such an acquisition would be limited. Herewith a list of likely states:
Argentina.
Belarus.
China.
Qatar.
Myanmar (Burma).
North Korea.
Russia.
Venezuela.