Some experts believe Donald Trump is interested in Greenland because of its natural resources, similar to how he pressured Ukraine to give up some of its mineral rights.
A snowy coastline with houses can be seen in Nuuk, Greenland.
Greenland has many valuable resources under its ice, and Trump wants control over them.
When Trump first talked about buying Greenland in 2019, many people thought he was joking. Now, it seems more serious.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has once again shown strong interest in Greenland. This is part of his “America First” policy, which includes asking Ukraine to hand over mineral rights in exchange for military aid, suggesting the U.S. should take control of the Panama Canal, and even proposing that Canada become the 51st U.S. state.
Global conflicts, climate change, and economic shifts have made Greenland a key location for trade and security. Trump wants the U.S. to control this resource-rich territory, which is important for protecting the Arctic and North Atlantic.
Greenland has about 56,000 residents, mostly Inuit people. It is a self-governing territory of Denmark, which is a U.S. ally but has refused to sell Greenland to Trump. Denmark has also recognized Greenland’s right to become independent if it chooses.
With growing concerns over foreign interference, Greenland’s prime minister called for an early election.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, lies mostly within the Arctic Circle. For a long time, it was overlooked by other countries, but now its importance is growing.
As Arctic ice melts due to climate change, a new sea route for global trade could open, increasing competition between countries like the U.S., Russia, and China for access to Greenland’s resources.
According to Dwayne Menezes, an expert on Arctic affairs, Greenland is becoming more important on the global stage because of its location and resource potential. He believes major world powers will compete for influence over the island, with some even wanting to buy it.
After the Cold War, countries worked together in the Arctic, but things have changed due to rising conflicts, the demand for resources, and tensions caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Greenland is near Canada and is mostly inside the Arctic Circle. It has been important to North American defense since World War II, when the U.S. occupied it to prevent Nazi Germany from taking control.
The U.S. still has military bases in Greenland, including the Pituffik Space Base, which helps monitor missile activity and space operations. Greenland is also part of a key area where NATO watches Russian naval movements.
Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals, which are needed to make electronics, batteries, and renewable energy technology. The U.S. Geological Survey also believes there may be oil and gas deposits offshore.
Greenlanders want to use their natural resources but have strict environmental laws. The extreme weather in the region also makes it difficult to extract these resources.
As the ice melts, more minerals are being uncovered, and new shipping routes are becoming possible. Greenland is located along two possible Arctic routes that could make shipping faster between the Atlantic and Pacific, avoiding crowded paths like the Suez and Panama canals. While these routes aren’t fully usable yet, they are drawing global interest.
In 2018, China declared itself a “near-Arctic state” to increase its influence in the region. China also wants to build a “Polar Silk Road” as part of its global infrastructure project.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo opposed China’s involvement in the Arctic, warning against it becoming another contested region like the South China Sea. In 2021, Greenland blocked a Chinese-backed rare earth mining project by banning uranium mining.
Greenland gained more self-rule in 2009 and has the right to independence under international law. Most Greenlanders support independence, though they disagree on when it should happen. If Greenland becomes independent, it could lead to foreign interference, which might affect U.S. interests in the region..
