Over a century ago, the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for US$ 25 million. The decision was part of a key geopolitical strategy in the Caribbean.
Today, history is back in focus with Washington's failed attempts to acquire Greenland. What happened back then and what has changed today?
The United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark for US$ 25 million | La Derecha Diario
The purchase of the Virgin Islands
In 1917, during the First World War, the United States acquired the Danish Virgin Islands. The goal was to strengthen its dominance in the Caribbean and protect the Panama Canal against the growing German threat.
President Woodrow Wilson pushed for the purchase after the revelation of the Zimmermann Telegram. Germany was offering support to Mexico to recover Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas if it entered the war against the U.S.
From Danish territory to American possession
Until their sale, the islands belonged to Denmark and were known as the Danish Virgin Islands. They were composed of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Saint Croix, along with several smaller islands.
The islands belonged to Denmark | La Derecha Diario
Their economy revolved around sugarcane and the slave trade. After the abolition of slavery in 1848, the region went into decline. This led Denmark to consider their sale.
American geopolitics
After the purchase, on March 31, 1917, the U.S. took possession of the archipelago. During the Second World War, the islands served in the fight against German submarines in the Caribbean.
On March 31, 1917, the U.S. took possession of the archipelago | La Derecha Diario
In the Cold War, their importance remained, as they helped in continental defense against the Soviet-Cuban alliance.
Greenland, a greater challenge
In 2019, Donald Trump expressed his intention to buy Greenland, just as the U.S. did with the Virgin Islands. But the Danish government rejected the proposal.
The island is key in the dispute over the Arctic Ocean and possesses strategic mineral resources. Unlike in 1917, the purchase of foreign territories today faces greater obstacles.
Donald Trump expressed his intention to buy Greenland | La Derecha Diario
The case of the Virgin Islands demonstrates how the United States has used the purchase of territories as a tool for geopolitical expansion. However, in the current context, similar strategies encounter more resistance.
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