Home
Anmelden
Registrieren
Loading...
Hörübung
Hören
/
Video
/
The Infographics Show
/
This is What Happens if the US Invades Greenland (Hour by Hour)
This is What Happens if the US Invades Greenland (Hour by Hour)
Lernmodus auswählen:
Untertitel ansehen
Wort wählen
Wort umschreiben
Highlight:
3000 Oxford Words
4000 IELTS Words
5000 Oxford Words
3000 Common Words
1000 TOEIC Words
5000 TOEFL Words
Untertitel (245)
0:00
This is what will happen if the USA invades Greenland.
0:03
Zero Hour
0:04
All attempts at diplomacy have failed, so the American president sees no other option left
0:08
on the table. He makes the call and issues the order. U.S. forces are to carry out a
0:12
full-scale invasion of Greenland and seize control of the island territory… by force.
0:17
While the American military has extensive experience of operating in some of the most
0:21
arid environments on earth, Greenland represents a very different prospect.
0:25
Because here, the enemy isn’t an army. It’s the Arctic.
0:28
The largest island on the planet, Greenland extends across approximately 836,000 square
0:33
miles (2.16 million square kilometers) of land, around 80% of which is covered
0:36
by the enormous Greenland Ice Sheet – the second largest body of ice in the world.
0:41
Its challenging climate and geography make it one of the most inhospitable locations on earth. And
0:46
that’s why it has such a small population, with just 57,000 people calling Greenland home and
0:51
more than a third of those – around 20,000, to be precise – living in the capital city, Nuuk.
0:56
This is a mission unlike any the U.S. has ever encountered before.
1:00
Because the U.S. can take Greenland fast. The real question is whether it can hold it.
1:05
1 Hour Instead of just nuking Nuuk, they map
1:08
the battlespace, weigh up every option, and pick the exact assets and tactics that can end this
1:13
fast - with minimal risk. This has to hit with speed and precision, leaving the rest of the world
1:18
barely a window to react… let alone interfere. Vast carrier strike groups have been formed
1:23
and are already sailing across the Atlantic towards Greenland. On their decks are some
1:26
of America’s most fearsome fighter jets, such as F-22s and F-35s - all ready to launch at
1:32
a moment’s notice. Above them, AEW&C aircraft begin wide, circling sweeps, while drone teams
1:38
and patrol planes fan out across the ocean, searching for anything that doesn’t belong.
1:43
Cruisers and special operations support ships ride alongside them, built for raids,
1:47
insertions, and the ugly work that happens up close. And beneath it all,
1:51
a couple of submarines slide through the dark water. Thousands of soldiers move with the fleet.
1:56
And at this point, the invasion isn’t coming. It’s already en route.
1:59
But a military movement this massive doesn’t stay secret for long. It doesn’t take long for
2:04
the rest of the world to spot the patterns - and realize exactly what’s happening.
2:08
1 Hour 30 minutes Panic rapidly sets in, particularly among
2:11
the nations of the NATO alliance - which have all agreed to defend one another, in accordance
2:16
with the North Atlantic Treaty’s Article 5. It states that any attack on any member nation is
2:21
considered an attack on the entire alliance. But NATO has never had to deal with anything
2:26
like this, in which one of its own member states invades another.
2:29
As world leaders open frantic discussions and organize emergency meetings, the alliance
2:34
prepares to face its biggest test yet. And whatever they decide next rewrites
2:38
the entire world order. 2 Hours
2:40
The American armada draws closer and closer to the coasts of Greenland with every passing minute.
2:45
As America’s assets draw nearer to their target, the operation shifts into its next phase.
2:50
One of the U.S.’ core objectives is to cut the island off from any outside
2:54
communications in order to minimize the risk of external interference.
2:57
Electronic warfare aircraft, like EA18G Growlers – specialized versions of the F/A-18F
3:04
Super Hornet – take to the skies, equipped with advanced EW equipment to jam radars and cut comms.
3:10
This isn’t an airstrike. It’s a blackout. In a matter of minutes, Greenland is isolated.
3:15
With no consistent lines of communication between its capital, Nuuk, and the Danish government in
3:20
Copenhagen, the island has gone dark. To ensure that the Growlers’ aren’t
3:24
intercepted or interfered with in any way, a fleet of F-22s and F-35s are deployed. Super stealthy,
3:29
lightning fast, and equipped with some of the most advanced avionics and most powerful
3:34
weaponry on the planet, these jets quickly assume control of Greenlandic airspace, almost instantly
3:39
establishing a no-fly zone across the island. Even if NATO nations deploy their own fighter
3:44
jets, they’ll face a real test going up against America’s highly-trained pilots.
3:48
3 Hours At this stage of the invasion,
3:50
the U.S. has the luxury of being able to act with confidence and decisiveness. They know Greenland
3:55
has no military to speak of, relying instead on the protection of Denmark and other NATO nations.
4:00
This isn’t like any of America’s previous military operations in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
4:05
There’s no swathes of hostile forces on the ground or layered air defense systems to contend with.
4:10
U.S. forces don’t need to worry about orchestrated bombing runs to disable Greenland’s defenses.
4:15
They don’t need to attack large troop and armor concentrations on the ground. Nor
4:19
do they have to fear any advanced fighter jets taking off from Greenland’s runways
4:23
to engage in dogfights with American F-35s. This isn’t going to be a grinding war - at least
4:28
not at first. In the early hours, resistance is minimal… just enough to be dangerous. That
4:33
opening gap is all the U.S. needs. And once that gap closes,
4:37
the invasion becomes an occupation. Objectives get seized fast - driven by veteran
4:41
operators and commanders who’ve done this before, and know exactly how to make it end quickly
4:46
4 Hours Once the jets have achieved
4:48
air superiority, additional aircraft start taking off from the Atlantic Ocean aircraft carriers.
4:53
Transport aircraft - C-17 Globemaster IIIs - roar into the sky, packed with troops and
4:58
equipment. Hundreds… then thousands… are flown off the carriers and dropped
5:02
straight onto Greenland’s most strategic ground. The priority targets are obvious, and they’re hit
5:07
first. Airports. Transport hubs. The arteries that keep the island connected to the outside world.
5:12
Places like Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq. And then the biggest prize of all - Nuuk.
5:17
The capital. The main international airport. Even in a sparsely populated and poorly-defended
5:22
location like Greenland, for an invasion to be successful, any invading force needs to
5:26
be able to get boots on the ground - as well as tanks, armored vehicles, and other assets.
5:31
But getting assets onto Greenland isn’t easy. There aren’t many places on Greenland where the
5:36
U.S. can land safely - where heavy aircraft can touch down, unload,
5:39
and keep moving. That’s why locations like Kangerlussuaq and Nuuk become vital targets.
5:44
The U.S. doesn’t just target cities… it targets choke points.
5:48
The Globemasters set off in different directions, deploying
5:51
scores of armed paratroopers onto key targets. Facing no real resistance, apart from protesting
5:56
civilians and frustrated local officials, America’s soldiers quickly seize control of
6:00
the island’s transport hubs. Commanders would give the order for additional assets to enter the area.
6:06
12 Hours Arleigh Burke class destroyers depart the
6:09
carrier strike group, situated off the southern shore of the island. They escort amphibious
6:13
docks and landing craft towards the capital and primary port in Nuuk. Upon arrival, hovercraft
6:18
carrying marines and specialized arctic vehicles make their way onto the Greenlandic territory.
6:23
U.S. personnel taking control of the port, most likely without even having to fire a single shot.
6:28
Meanwhile, out in the surrounding waters, U.S. Navy forces deter any
6:31
forces from interfering in their operations. They try to seal the GIUK gap - an area of
6:37
water between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. It's a strategic choke point,
6:42
one that can cut the Norwegian and North Seas off from the wider Atlantic… and trap anything
6:46
that tries to slip through. The Scandinavian nations,
6:49
which are all part of NATO, as well as Russia, sit on the other side of the gap.
6:53
The U.S. doesn’t want a single hostile asset entering the area while it locks the island down.
6:58
Airborne early warning aircraft and patrol vessels scan the surrounding skies and seas for any signs
7:03
of suspicious activity. Virginia-class attack submarines sink down to the deepest depths of
7:07
the Atlantic Ocean, using state of the art sonar technology to hunt down and deter any Russian subs
7:13
or other assets from coming too close. The naval blockade should, in theory,
7:17
give U.S. forces the time and freedom they need to complete their mission.
7:21
But that depends on how other nations react. And that is the most dangerous part.
7:25
Day 2 NATO leaders
7:27
convene to discuss their next steps. Denmark invokes Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
7:32
While Article 5 is very clear about any attack on a single member being treated
7:36
as an attack on the entire alliance, there’s never been a situation quite like this before.
7:41
With no precedent to refer to, leaders struggle to come to any unanimous decision on how to respond.
7:46
Some want to honor the alliance, as they have always vowed to do, taking up arms and
7:50
deploying military forces to defend Greenland and Denmark. Others argue that taking military
7:55
action against America would be certain death - in more ways than one, given the vast strength
7:59
of the U.S. Armed Forces. And whichever side wins
8:02
this argument changes everything. With the biggest military budget on Earth,
8:06
more than 1.3 million active troops, the most dominant air power ever assembled, and one of the
8:12
largest navies on the planet, the U.S. doesn’t just bring force - it brings inevitability.
8:17
In sheer capability, in reach, in speed, the United States isn’t
8:20
just a superpower - it’s the strongest military machine the world has ever seen.
8:25
No other NATO country comes close. Denmark, the country most eager to take
8:29
immediate action against the U.S., currently sits 45th in the Global Firepower rankings
8:34
of the world’s strongest military powers. With 21,000 active personnel and just 12,000
8:40
more in reserve, its army is a mere fraction of the size of America’s. Its air force is comprised
8:44
of barely 100 assets. Meanwhile, its naval force is almost non-existent, made up of small numbers
8:50
of frigates, patrol vessels, and mine warfare vessels. The Danish land force, too, would have
8:55
zero chance against an adversary of America’s size, boasting a few dozen tanks in total.
9:00
Denmark isn’t asking for help… it’s demanding it. It needs the support of its many allies across
9:05
the NATO alliance - many of which have far stronger and much more serious military
9:10
forces at their disposal. The United Kingdom sits 8th in the Global Firepower rankings,
9:14
France takes the 6th place, and other countries that are reasonably well-prepared for combat, such
9:18
as Germany, Italy, Turkiye, Spain, and Poland. But individually, these nations would
9:23
have little hope against the U.S. Combined, they’ll struggle against
9:27
the world’s strongest military. But, at the very least, they have the potential to deal
9:31
serious damage or take major steps to deter any further American aggression in the area.
9:36
Even so, none of those nations are eager to step into a confrontation that puts lives on
9:41
the line - on either side - and risks spiraling into something far bigger… something irreversible.
9:46
Instead, they agree to exercise other methods of deterrence - leveraging economic systems
9:50
to pile pressure on the U.S. and urge its leadership to reconsider.
9:54
European leaders threaten to rip up trade deals with America, impose tariffs on American goods
9:59
and services and evict American businesses from their territories. They also threaten to freeze
10:04
American assets, like the approximately $3.6 trillion worth of U.S. treasuries
10:09
held by Europe today - that represents 40% of all of America’s foreign holdings.
10:14
Meanwhile, elsewhere around the world, lawmakers, leaders, and local
10:17
populations would react to the situation. Markets become volatile and unpredictable,
10:22
people protest in the streets, and opinions become increasingly divided about America’s
10:26
actions. Some argue that a seizure of Greenland is in the country’s best interests. Others
10:31
express immense anger and regret over an act that could destroy NATO entirely.
10:35
The world descends into a state of chaos and panic,
10:38
as representatives of 31 different NATO nations struggle to decide on their next best steps.
10:43
And while they argue… the U.S. keeps building its grip.
10:47
Day 3 America’s biggest rivals–
10:49
Russia and China – move to exploit the situation for their benefit. They condemn America’s actions
10:54
and call for harsh sanctions and other punishments against the United States. They want to strengthen
10:59
their geopolitical standing, however they can. The U.S. is temporarily able to take advantage of
11:03
NATO’s indecision and world leaders’ hesitancy, seizing the opportunity to push on and fortify
11:09
its position on the island. Even if it has to contend with military action from its allies,
11:13
it's more than ready to do so. Day 7
11:16
By the end of the first week, the U.S. easily establishes total control of all major transport
11:21
hubs, from ports to airports. It continues to build up a serious presence in the capital city,
11:26
while also continuing to enjoy aerial dominance and a firm naval blockade around the island.
11:31
That, however, is when things get much more difficult.
11:33
Because Greenland is not like any other location that the
11:36
U.S. military has ever operated in before. It is cold, it is inhospitable, and it does
11:42
not have the kind of infrastructure or transport links that most other places on earth have.
11:46
Greenland doesn’t have a neat web of highways tying everything together. There are no easy
11:51
supply routes, no fast overland pushes. Most towns are isolated, separated by brutal distance - and
11:57
vast stretches of terrain that are nearly impossible to cross by conventional means.
12:01
Ice fields. Whiteout snowstorms. Sudden weather shifts that can swallow vehicles, stall movement,
12:07
and turn a simple journey into a survival problem. And that's the problem.
12:11
Even with overwhelming force, U.S. units struggle to move quickly, lock down scattered towns and
12:16
infrastructure, and build the kind of supply lines an occupation depends on.
12:20
Heavy tanks and large armored vehicles have next to no chance of making their way safely
12:24
across the territory’s frosty landscapes. As a result, the U.S. has to resort to
12:29
alternative methods - airlifting lighter vehicles, such as M10 Bookers and Strykers,
12:34
to key locations in order to establish defensive zones and fortify its positions.
12:38
Thousands of Navy Seabees – expert combat construction workers – are deployed and make
12:43
their way across the island. They work quickly to establish the infrastructure America needs. They
12:48
are tasked with expanding America’s pre-existing military base on the island – Pituffik Space
12:52
Base – which is situated on the territory’s northwest coast. It’s transformed into a
12:57
multi-domain hub for fighter jets, missile defense systems, and other high value military assets.
13:02
Construction crews work to expand Greenland’s dual-use ports and
13:06
lay down the infrastructure needed to host the U.S. Navy destroyers, submarines, and
13:10
other vessels. Piers get reinforced. Facilities go up. Storage is carved into the coastline.
13:15
It’s not just about ships - it’s about control. These ports become the answer to Greenland’s
13:20
brutal logistics, creating a steady funnel for troops, fuel, equipment, and supplies flowing
13:25
straight from the U.S. and into the island… turning the island into a permanent foothold.
13:30
It’s an enormous challenge for all involved, with no easy options on the table.
13:34
Week 2 The U.S. moves fast to lock down the island.
13:38
The elements are punishing, the infrastructure is thin - but for now, it’s under control.
13:42
Then the real problem begins. Because the next challenge
13:45
isn’t logistical. It’s human. Greenland’s population may be small… but it’s passionate.
13:51
The people here take great pride in their land and their cultural identity, and most, if not all,
13:55
would not take kindly to an invading force rushing in and seizing control of their cities and lands.
14:00
Greenlanders don’t respond with outright violence - not on a military scale. They
14:04
don’t have the weapons, the numbers, or the equipment to fight the U.S. head-on.
14:08
But that doesn’t mean they’re powerless. Even without an army,
14:11
they can still turn every step of America’s plan into a slower, harder, more expensive grind
14:16
Local civil servants go on strike, refusing to comply with the occupiers’ orders. Protests
14:21
make their presence known in the towns and cities. Before long, the sheer challenge of
14:25
governing an Arctic territory this vast starts to sink in for American officials on the ground.
14:30
This is what occupation looks like. Slow, grinding and expensive.
14:34
News of the invasion dominates global headlines. America’s credibility has taken a serious hit,
14:39
with many people across the world sympathizing with the Greenlanders.
14:43
NATO, after days of indecision, inevitably begins to fracture. Leaders attempt to
14:47
express unity in public statements - but behind closed doors, it’s a scene of constant clashes,
14:52
bitter disagreements, and a growing realization that they’re no longer moving as one.
14:56
Leading members of the alliance push for economic sanctions against the U.S.,
15:00
promising harsher penalties unless the invasion is called off. Some of America’s closest allies,
15:05
like the United Kingdom, start issuing threats that would’ve been unthinkable weeks earlier.
15:10
End cooperation with Washington. Reconsider intelligence-sharing. Sever diplomatic ties.
15:15
Drag the U.S. into international courts. Some countries want to go further,
15:19
drawing up plans to deploy troops or other assets to Greenland. Global power alliances start to
15:24
crumble and the face of geopolitics is changed for generations to come.
15:28
At this stage, America is faced with one last opportunity, and has an important decision
15:32
to make. Week 3
15:34
On the ground in Greenland, U.S. construction crews get to work immediately - expanding ports,
15:39
reinforcing airfields, upgrading roads where they can, and building
15:42
entirely new facilities from scratch. Not just to hold the island… but to use it.
15:46
Every new structure is a statement of intent - to turn Greenland’s strategic location into a
15:51
permanent advantage. The rich natural resources are something America can extract, control,
15:56
and profit from - before anyone else can stop it. Month 1
16:00
American mining companies begin operations on the island, and the number of U.S. personnel on
16:04
the territory multiplies - going from hundred to thousands. U.S. leadership deals with the legal
16:09
challenges, logistical difficulties, and rising levels of domestic and international pressure.
16:14
But as the months drag on, new problems start piling up.
16:17
Holding Greenland isn’t just about capturing it - it’s about running it. Maintaining security
16:22
across a vast, empty landscape. Keeping order in scattered towns. Protecting infrastructure
16:26
that’s exposed to weather, distance, and sabotage. And at the same time, the U.S. has to keep basic
16:32
services running for civilians - food, heat, medical support, transport. If that system
16:37
collapses, control doesn’t just weaken… it risks turning into a humanitarian disaster
16:41
the entire world will watch in real time. International isolation strain supply lines,
16:46
and the costs of the operation run the risk of exceeding initial estimates.
16:50
Greenlanders, meanwhile, continue to resist, not just for weeks and months - but for years
16:55
following the invasion. They never fully acquiesce to America’s demands or recognize its authority.
17:00
But the costs keep climbing. The logistics stay brutal. And the occupation becomes
17:04
more complicated by the week. At this stage, the U.S. has
17:07
two options - dig in… or find an exit. Eventually, Washington shifts course.
17:12
Instead of doubling down, the U.S. begins pushing for a negotiated de-escalation - working with NATO
17:17
partners and allies to hammer out a deal that pulls the crisis back from the edge.
17:22
It likely isn’t a full retreat. More like a trade. A partial withdrawal of troops…
17:26
in exchange for stronger long-term control over Greenland’s resources, basing rights,
17:30
and security arrangements moving forward. Either way, the invasion itself meets minimal
17:34
military resistance. The real fight comes after. Because the consequences don’t fade.
17:40
America’s global standing takes a hit that may never fully recover.
17:43
Alliances that took generations to build begin to crack, or collapse outright. And in the vacuum,
17:48
rivals like Russia and China move to seize momentum, expanding their
17:52
influence as Washington loses credibility. What starts as a fast operation in the Arctic
17:57
could end as something far larger… the most dangerous global crisis since the Cold War
18:02
Now go check out Why USA Leaving NATO Will Cause World War 3. Or click on this video instead.
This is What Happens if the US Invades Greenland (Hour by Hour) - Video học tiếng Anh
