Laughter and Criticism Over the Proposal
"Greenland as a Dowry?" Human Rights and Sovereignty Debates Emerge
As the United States has repeatedly expressed its intention to purchase Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, and has even hinted at possible military action, a proposal to resolve the issue through a political marriage between Barron Trump (19), the youngest son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, and Princess Isabella of Denmark (18) has become a hot topic among international netizens.
On the 8th, the famous political satire account 'Miss White' proposed a simple diplomatic solution to the recent US-Denmark conflict over Greenland by suggesting the marriage of Barron Trump and Princess Isabella. X
On January 15 (local time), international media outlets including USA Today reported that the famous political satire account 'Miss White', active on social networking services (SNS), had sparked controversy by proposing the marriage of Barron Trump and Princess Isabella as a simple diplomatic solution to the recent U.S.-Denmark conflict over Greenland. Previously, on January 8, the account posted, "Barron Trump and Princess Isabella should get married, and Greenland should be given to the U.S. as a dowry." The post quickly went viral, receiving over 7,000 comments. Barron is the youngest son of former President Trump and his third wife, Melania Trump, while Princess Isabella is the eldest daughter of King Frederik X of Denmark and second in line to the throne.
"Habsburg-Style Diplomacy?" Laughter and Criticism Collide
Reactions to this tongue-in-cheek solution were sharply divided among netizens. Some commented jokingly, "The Austrian Habsburg dynasty actually resolved disputes through marriage," "This could happen in the world of the British drama 'Bridgerton'," and "It sounds like medieval fan fiction." Another user quipped, "It would be better if Barron married Princess Leonor of Spain and unified the entire American continent," while another satirically asked, "If they get divorced, does that mean Princess Isabella gets half of America?"
Some netizens even shared AI-generated virtual wedding photos of the two. However, there was also significant criticism. One user pointed out, "Greenland is not a bargaining chip, and neither Princess Isabella nor Barron are diplomatic tools," adding, "Exchanging countries through marriage is something from the 1400s."
Greenland as a Strategic Stronghold: The Background of U.S. Obsession and Europe's Response
Greenland is a region rich in rare earth elements, oil, and iron ore, and holds significant strategic value in terms of advanced industries and energy security. In particular, as China currently dominates the global market for rare earth elements, the United States has focused on Greenland as an alternative resource base to diversify its supply chains.
Since 2019, President Trump has publicly argued that the United States should annex or purchase Greenland for reasons of Arctic security and resource acquisition. However, the Danish government has strongly rejected these claims, stating, "Greenland is not for sale."
Amidst these tensions, negotiations between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland held in Washington, D.C. on January 14 (local time) ended without any significant progress, only reaffirming "fundamental differences." The Danish Ministry of Defense later announced, "We are reinforcing Danish troops stationed in Greenland and the surrounding region in cooperation with NATO allies." Within Europe, there are concerns that U.S. pressure could heighten military tensions in the Arctic region.
After the talks, President Trump posted on his social media, "If Russia or China tried to take over Greenland, Denmark could do nothing, but we can do anything," adding, "You can see this from the Venezuela case last week." This statement is interpreted as an escalation of pressure by demonstrating the potential for military intervention. Experts have assessed that the current "political marriage" controversy is less a genuine diplomatic solution and more a vivid illustration of how unrealistic and dangerous the U.S.-European conflict over Greenland has become.
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