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Probably the most peaceful war in history - it's about a small island and alcohol

2022-03-06T05:14:54.838Z


Probably the most peaceful war in history - it's about a small island and alcohol Created: 03/06/2022, 06:08 By: Marcus Giebel Canada and Denmark have been at loggerheads over Hans Island for almost 40 years. Both countries are therefore waging what is probably the most peaceful war of all. Munich - The Ukraine war has shown us for a few days how bloody and destructive a territorial dispute ca


Probably the most peaceful war in history - it's about a small island and alcohol

Created: 03/06/2022, 06:08

By: Marcus Giebel

Canada and Denmark have been at loggerheads over Hans Island for almost 40 years.

Both countries are therefore waging what is probably the most peaceful war of all.

Munich - The Ukraine war has shown us for a few days how bloody and destructive a territorial dispute can look in the 21st century.

People die every day, others are constantly being robbed of their belongings and forced to flee.

How much more peaceful such a conflict can be conducted has been evident for decades in the Kennedy Canal, part of the Nares Strait.

Especially in these gloomy times, a look at the strait between Canada and Greenland is worthwhile.

To be more precise, on Hans Island.

This is a vegetation-free and uninhabited island of just 1.25 square kilometers in size.

Dispute over Hans Island: Canada and Denmark exchange flags and spirits

Canada and Denmark are at odds over its ownership, since Greenland is an autonomous part of the Danish kingdom.

A few years ago, Stern

called the

dispute the “most polite” and “probably most relaxed war in recent human history”.

Because although both countries claim the piece of land in the middle of the Arctic Ocean for themselves, nobody would think of taking up arms because of it.

Rather, the custom has now become established on Hans Island that every nation leaves behind a hoisted state flag and customary spirits after a visit to the rock.

Border patrols or research teams can take care of this.

There is always a reason to set foot on the mini-island when a piece of fabric from the other country is blowing in the wind or your throat needs oiling.

The Canadians mostly leave whiskey behind, the Danes schnapps - according to

ntv

the brand "Aalborg".

Canada and Denmark claim Hans Island for themselves: problem since border was drawn in 1973

Although both sides benefit from this dispute in a certain way, a settlement is being worked on.

Alone: ​​so far without a satisfactory result for the "warring parties".

For the first time, the decision on affiliation was postponed when the border was drawn in 1973.

Unlike the neighboring islands of Franklin Island and Crozier Island, which are much closer to Greenland, Hans Island is pretty much in the middle of the strait.

In 2005, the then Greenlandic Foreign Minister Josef Motzfeldt explained the importance of the rock by saying that the island could become important for shipping if the Nares Strait became navigable due to climate change.

He also referred to the right of ownership of possible mineral resources under the island and in the surrounding waters.

The point of contention between Canada and Denmark: Hans Island consists only of bare rock, but neither country wants to give it up voluntarily.

© Twitter

Who gets Hans Island?

The most peaceful war could also become the longest

When the border was drawn again in 2012, everything remained the same with regard to Hans Island: Canada and Denmark could not come to a common denominator on how to assign the possibly strategically important rock.

Even an official task force set up in 2018 brought no improvement.

The two nations continue to exchange spirits and take turns hoisting their flags.

If these remain the only accompanying circumstances of the war over Hans Island, it can still last forever.

The majority of humanity should not be bothered if what is probably the most peaceful war in human history should also be the longest.

(mg)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-03-06

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