Trump's selection of a Musk ally for the position of Danish ambassador suggests potential insights into his Greenland strategy.
Scrabble Ace:
Let's talk about the mystery surrounding Donald Trump's plan for Greenland, with a focus on Ken Howery, Trump's new Danish ambassador.
Trump's Tweet Sparks Greenland Takeover Chatter
Donald Trump recently claimed on his Truth Social platform that Ken Howery, the man assigned as the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, will help America "gain Greenland". This comes after Trump's December 22nd post, where he emphasized the necessity of "ownership and control of Greenland".
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO and owner of X, a social media platform, was among the first to comment, urging Howery to make this happen.
While Musk's comment might seem a joke, given the laughter emoji, Trump's consistent statements lately suggest that he's indeed serious about the takeover. But what does this mean for long-time ally, Denmark, and how might Howery contribute to Trump's ambitious Greenland plans?
The Man Behind the Video Game King
Ken Howery: A Tech Titan with a Diplomatic Twist
Howery is best known for co-founding PayPal, alongside industry giants like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Luke Nosek, and Max Levchin. He served as PayPal's CFO from 1998 until its acquisition by eBay in 2002. Howery and Musk have remained close, with Musk even visiting Howery's Texas home in 2021. Howery was also spotted at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Florida mansion, during the November 5th, 2020 election night.
Before his ambassadorial role in Sweden, Howery served as an ambassador from 2019 to 2021, a whopping 30 months after Trump took office in 2017. He stepped down after President Joe Biden assumed office in 2021.
Howery's connection to Trump, as well as his Texas home, continues despite his resignation. In fact, Eniro's address service lists him as residing in an apartment on Strandvägen in Stockholm, one of Sweden's most prestigious addresses.
From Sweden to Arctic Security
Howery's Role in Greenland
While Howery has kept his thoughts on Trump's ambition for Greenland under wraps on social media, it's clear he has a vested interest in Arctic security, having written a debate article in Svenska Dagbladet newspaper. In the article, he warned of rising military activity from Russia and China in the Arctic region, referencing the strategic importance of the so-called GIUK gap between Greenland and the UK.
Howery was also involved in establishing the Arctic Initiative between the Arctic Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Sweden's Luleå University of Technology, further demonstrating his interest in the region. While his appointment doesn't point directly to a takeover, it certainly adds fuel to the speculation fire.
In Conclusion
As Howery steps into his new role, questions remain about the future of U.S.-Denmark relations and the fate of Greenland. One thing's for certain - Howery's background in technology, finance, and diplomacy, combined with his interest in Arctic security, could position him to play a significant role in any potential U.S. strategic maneuvers in the region.
So, will Howery help Trump "gain Greenland", or will his diplomatic skills help keep the peace between ally nations? Only time will tell.
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Further Reading
- Why did Danish PM Frederiksen say foreign labor should be limited?
- Why the majority of Denmark's international students now study in Copenhagen
- IN DATA: Copenhagen's struggle to keep its international workers
- Danish parliament votes through 'unfair' hike to citizenship fee
- Ken Howery, the new Danish ambassador, has sparked news surrounding Donald Trump's plan for Greenland due to Trump's recent statements regarding the ownership and control of Greenland.
- Elon Musk, in a comment on his social media platform, urged Howery to help make Trump's Greenland takeover happen, adding to the speculation surrounding the potential takeover.
- Howery, known for his role in co-founding PayPal, has a diplomatic background and a vested interest in technology and Arctic security, as evidenced by his stance on rising military activity in the Arctic region and his involvement in the Arctic Initiative.
- Despite the mystery surrounding Trump's Greenland plans, Howery's appointment could position him to play a significant role in any potential U.S. strategic maneuvers in the region, with his unique blend of tech, finance, and diplomatic expertise.
- The future of U.S.-Denmark relations and the fate of Greenland remain uncertain as Howery steps into his new role, with his actions and statements yet to be seen.
- Ambassador Howery's background, diplomatic skills, and connection to Trump could lead him to either assist in Trump's ambitious Greenland plans or help maintain peace between ally nations, a decision that remains undeniably muted in the general-news sphere, awaiting further developments.
