12 centrespread GREENLAND centrespread 13 AUGUST 25-31, 2019 AUGUST 25-31, 2019 OTHER LAND DEALS USA: THE BUYOUT NATION PAMIR OUR LAND, MOUNTAINS ALASKA China struck a deal with Most of US’ current Tajikistan in 2011 to territory was The US has been trying buy 1,000 sq km in the purchased from other to buy Greenland for a Pamir Mountains area. nations. It bought long time. In 1946, Alaska for $7.2 president Harry Truman million in 1867 since YOUR LAND offered $100 mn for SPANISH the Russians felt it the island. In fact, US FINNISH LAND would be difficult to US President Donald Trump’s recent offer to buy Greenland led interest in the island ISLANDS Former USSR bought defend the territory goes back to 1867. to a little diplomatic tiff with Denmark. However, transfer Germany bought Janiskoski-Niskakoski territory in case of a war. of land between sovereign nations without any war is not Caroline & Mariana from Finland for 700 mn Islands from Spain Finnish markka in 1947. uncommon, neither was the idea to acquire Greenland in 1899. LOUISIANA :: Suman Layak GWADAR CARIBBEAN US’ biggest purchase was Pakistan bought ISLANDS the port city from Louisiana from France for $15 France bought Saint Oman in 1958 for million in 1801. Before this, Barthelemy in the West Indies 5.5 bn Pakistani Louisiana was Spain’s from from Sweden for 320 thousand rupees. 1763 and 1801 after France Greenland French Franc in 1878. ceded it to the Spanish to pull Alaska country into its war against Janiskoski-Niskakoski Britain. Spain returned it to France in 1801. LAND VALUE China, US and UK There have been Maldives, Nauru and Kiribati, which have been buying suggestions could sink as sea levels rise, are said FLORIDA Pamir up land in Brazil, Greece may sell to be looking at buying land in other Mountains Australia and Ethiopia some islands to countries. Bought from Louisiana to grow food. pay off debts. Florida Hong Kong Spain in 1819 Gwadar Macau Mumbai St Barthelemy Caroline and for $5 mn. Mariana Islands PHILIPPINE ISLAND Bought from Spain in 1946, given up later. DANISH WEST INDIES (Now known as US Virgin Islands). Bought from the Danes for $25 mn in 1916. Kiribati US paid Mexico nearly $30 mn for buying MEXICO different territories between 1848 and 1856. MACAU It was leased to Portugal by China in 1557. The ISLANDS ON LEASE Portuguese got perpetual colonial rights in 1887 IN THE SUBCONTINENT but control was ceded back to China in 1999. MUMBAI HONG KONG The UK took Hong Kong, Bombay came to the Kowloon, and some British from the other territories on lease Portuguese as part of the from China. Some 1661 marriage treaty of portions were ceded in Charles II of England and perpetuity. Catherine of Braganza, INDIA-BANGLADESH ENCLAVES daughter of Portugal’s India and Bangladesh exchanged land on the border to King John IV. make life easier for inhabitants of enclaves and lay roads. Sources: “Architecture of the global land acquisition system: applying the tools of network science to identify key vulnerabilities,” Environmental Research Letters. J W Seaquist, Emma Li Johansson and Kimberly A Nicholas, globalpolicy.org, The Economist, Washington Post.