By Enver Robelli
The conflict over Greenland, which has been unsettling transatlantic relations these days, reminded me of another conflict in the same region—one that for years has been resolved in a rather creative way.
It is about Hans Island, only 1.3 square kilometers in size, uninhabited and without vegetation, in the Nares Strait between Northern Greenland and Ellesmere Island. The Nares Strait? This is surely remembered only by those who did not fall asleep during geography class.
In any case, the story of Hans Island is this: in 1973 Greenland and Canada negotiated over the drawing of the border line. They did not reach an agreement. Later, the minister responsible for Greenland planted a Danish flag on Hans Island.
Since then, a cheerful ritual has taken place: the Canadians arrive on the island, replace the Danish flag with their own, and leave beside it a bottle of whisky (Canadian Club). After them come the Danes, replace the Canadian flag with theirs, and leave a bottle of schnapps.
Thus, for several decades now, the Whisky War has been waged. No casualties have been reported—except perhaps the liver of some officer. Could the conflict between the United States and Denmark over Greenland now be resolved in the same way? Unlikely. Donald Trump drinks neither whisky nor schnapps, but he is not a pilgrim either.