Proxy Governance Model for Greenland: An Option for the U.S. Foreign Policy?

Alexander Pilyasov, Doctor of Science (Geography) and Professor at Lomonosov Moscow State University, proposes that Donald Trump could leverage proxy organizations to manage economic activities and resources in Greenland.

Drawing on historical precedents such as the Hudson’s Bay Company, the East India Company, and the Tennessee Valley Corporation, Dr. Pilyasov highlights the effectiveness of this approach. He emphasizes that these proxy entities are typically established through presidential decree, granting them exceptional authority to conduct economic operations within a designated territory.

Dr. Pilyasov cites President Roosevelt’s creation of the Tennessee Valley Corporation as an example. This organization unified seven economically disadvantaged states and harnessed hydroelectric power for their collective benefit. He suggests that a similar proxy structure could be employed by Mr. Trump in his pursuit of Greenland, echoing colonial practices dating back to the 16th century.

He also emphasizes that the development of Arctic regions has consistently been intertwined with global events. As an example, he cites the impact of the Great Depression on the Soviet Union’s industrialization. The resulting increase in gold prices, combined with a decrease in the cost of machinery essential for Soviet manufacturing, spurred development in the Arctic and the mining sector of Russia’s northeast.

This commentary is part of a series of historical lectures by PORA Expert Center focused on the history of Arctic exploration and the Northern Sea Route.