Nigel Farage, the ex-British politician and staunch Brexit supporter, recently expressed this same sentiment about Greenland. He argues that if the United States assumed control over the island, the world would be a “better, more secure place.” He laid down this marker during last week’s annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. At the same time, there, he navigated the intricacies of global geopolitics with a focus on national sovereignty.
Though outrageous, Farage’s comments tapped into sentiments that ring true to many Americans made attuned by certain geopolitical realities. He underscored 3 principal factors guiding U.S. interests in Greenland. These such as the retreating ice caps, an increase in Russian icebreaker activity, and increasing Chinese investments in the Arctic area. In Farage’s view, these new dynamics placed an even greater premium on sovereignty and self-determination for small eastern European nations.
Even as he infuriated officials with his calls for U.S. governance over Greenland, Farage counter-punched with a strong defense of the sanctity of nation-states.He stated, “If you believe in the nation state and not globalist structures, you believe in sovereignty.”He further elaborated on this principle by asserting that national self-determination is crucial, saying, “And if you believe in sovereignty, you believe in the principle of national self-determination.”
The former UK Independence Party leader acknowledged a strategic alignment with former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding national interests and territorial governance. Farage’s remarks highlighted a growing sentiment among some Western leaders who prioritize national sovereignty over globalist frameworks.
Although he was making the case for American control over Greenland, Farage didn’t overlook the rights of the indigenous people who call Greenland home. He insisted on respecting the views of the Greenlanders, emphasizing that “you must respect the rights and views of the Greenlanders, because that is what national self-determination is, and that’s a key part.”
In Davos, Farage cast himself as the hero of national interests fighting back against the globalist conspiracy he claimed was taking over the world. “For those of us at Davos that are fighting the globalists, belief in national self-determination is at the root of what people like me, albeit the minority here, believe in,” he stated.