It may seem unusual that in the past it was possible for one country to simply buy a part of another country. However, this practice, known as cession, was far more commonplace than we may know. But just how common was this practice and why does it not take place anymore? Or does it still happen?
Some of the most documented examples of cession relate to the United States (US) purchasing territory in what is now the USA. The most significant example of this was the ‘Louisiana Purchase’ of 1803; this act ceded the Louisiana Territory to the growing US. The Territory covered approximately one third of current US territory, meaning the deal was incredibly significant and served to shape the history of the United States. If cession on this scale could take place only 200 years ago, what is stopping it happening today?
After the end of the Second World War, international borders became a lot less flexible. Any change in land sovereignty, through annexation or cession, became less acceptable and therefore less commonplace. It appears that governments cannot reasonably cede land without risking backlash, however, there is little stopping corporations from doing it. Buying land abroad is an increasingly frequent practice in the business world (especially amongst TNCs), and increased access to resources through cession makes perfect business sense.
Despite cession being so negatively regarded by the international community, Trump has recently proposed the cession of Greenland to the United States. Believe it or not, there is precedent for the US government seeking land deals with Denmark regarding Greenland. In 1946, Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold without any success. When the idea was first posited by Truman, the Second World War had just come to a close and the Soviet Union had become an enemy to the US. The defensive value of such a large piece of land, almost exactly half way between Washington D.C. and Moscow, was enormous, hence the generous financial offerings of President Truman. Nowadays, though tensions with Russia continue to play a significant role in US foreign policy, Trump’s main consideration is that of mineral and gas resources. Trump’s trade war with China has compromised mineral availability for American industry and he is desperately searching for a way to replace lost materials.
In response to Trump’s offer to Greenland, the youth wing of the Belgian nationalist party, New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), tweeted, “Dear President, one Euro and Wallonia is yours. Call us.”. The tensions between Wallonia and the rest of Belgium are strong, but nonetheless offering an adversary for sale is unprecedented in modern society. Governments will not, of course, be rushing to sell off sovereignty of their regions, but Trump’s actions and the consequent jibe by the N-VA could well be the first example modern day cession.
By Brad Ewles
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