Throughout history, territorial acquisition has been a defining element of national strategy and power projection. For the United States, the notion of gaining land through purchase rather than war is not new. In fact, the US has repeatedly used this approach to strengthen its security, expand its resources, and ensure strategic advantage. Yet, in the contemporary world, the idea of buying land may seem almost archaic-a relic of a bygone era dominated by colonial powers. The Greenland debate, however, demonstrates that this method of territorial expansion, largely forgotten for decades, might still hold strategic value in today’s shifting global order.

The principle of acquiring land through purchase is deeply rooted in history. European colonial powers, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, frequently exchanged or bought territory as part of their strategic calculations. A striking example is the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494, which divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal. Portugal retained Brazil, while Spain gained control of the rest of South America. This diplomatic maneuver was designed to prevent conflict and secure territorial claims without resorting to war. Over time, however, as both empires waned in influence, the treaty’s significance diminished.

Similarly, the Treaty of Paris in the 18th century exemplifies the strategic use of land transactions by colonial powers. France ceded Canada to Britain in exchange for retaining economically valuable Caribbean islands such as Guadeloupe and Martinique. Though France temporarily lost control of its North American territories during subsequent conflicts, it later regained some islands, highlighting how power and resources dictated territorial exchanges. Britain, meanwhile, consolidated its dominance in North America and India, reflecting a pragmatic approach to territorial control based on strategic and economic value. Such practices were not unique to France and Britain. The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and other colonial powers also relied on exchanges and purchases to manage and expand their empires.

In the 20th century, the redistribution of territories following the world wars further reinforced the connection between power and land. After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles mandated the transfer of Germany’s colonies in Africa and the Pacific to victorious powers under the League of Nations’ mandates. Following World War II, as........

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