On Tuesday, Donald Trump Jr. arrived in Greenland, the expansive Arctic island that has piqued the interest of his father, President-elect Donald Trump, who has reiterated his desire to acquire the territory. This ambition has been met with firm resistance from Greenland, which has made it clear that it is not for sale.
Trump Jr. characterized his visit as a recreational venture, stating, “As an outdoorsman, I’m excited to stop into Greenland for this week.” However, his trip has intensified speculation about the president-elect’s true intentions for the region.
In December, Trump reignited discussions about Greenland’s potential acquisition, calling it “an absolute necessity.” When questioned at a press conference on Tuesday about whether he would rule out using “military or economic coercion” to acquire Greenland or Panama, another region he has expressed interest in, Trump responded, “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two, but I can say this: We need them for economic security.”
While the president-elect frames the potential purchase as a matter of national security, experts believe his interest extends to Greenland’s vast natural resources, including rare earth metals, which could become more accessible as climate change continues to melt the island’s ice.
A Unique Geopolitical Position
Greenland, the largest island in the world, is home to approximately 56,000 residents. Once a Danish colony, it is now an autonomous territory under Denmark. The island holds significant strategic importance, positioned between the United States and Europe. Its capital, Nuuk, is geographically closer to New York than to Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen.
Historically, Greenland has been viewed as vital to U.S. security, particularly in countering potential threats from Russia. According to Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, the island’s location is critical due to its proximity to the Northwest Passage and its role in the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap, a crucial maritime region.
The idea of acquiring Greenland is not new. In 1867, President Andrew Johnson considered purchasing Greenland after acquiring Alaska. Similarly, following World War II, the Truman administration offered Denmark $100 million for the island. Although these proposals never materialized, the 1951 U.S.-Greenland defense treaty secured the establishment of an airbase—now called Pituffik Space Base—in northwestern Greenland. This base, situated halfway between Moscow and New York, serves as the northernmost U.S. military outpost and is equipped with a missile warning system.
“The U.S. wants to ensure that no hostile powers control Greenland, as it could serve as a foothold for attacks on the U.S.,” Pram Gad explained.
Rich in Natural Resources
Greenland’s natural wealth may be even more enticing to Trump. Klaus Dodds, a professor of geopolitics at Royal Holloway, University of London, highlighted the island’s reserves of oil, gas, and rare earth metals—essential components for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and military equipment.
China currently dominates global rare earth production and has already signaled plans to restrict the export of critical minerals. “There is no question at all that Trump and his advisers are very concerned about the stranglehold that China appears to have,” Dodds said. Greenland, with its untapped mineral resources, offers a potential alternative. “I think Greenland is really about keeping China out,” he added.
Opportunities Amid Melting Ice
As Arctic temperatures rise, Greenland finds itself at the forefront of climate change, with melting ice opening new opportunities and challenges. Retreating ice has extended the navigable period for Arctic shipping routes, contributing to a 37% increase in Arctic shipping over the past decade, according to the Arctic Council.
“Trump, I think, instinctively gets the idea that the Arctic is melting,” Dodds noted, pointing to the economic possibilities tied to the region’s transformation. However, he warned that Arctic conditions remain perilous, and melting ice could make navigation even riskier.
There is also speculation that reduced ice cover could make Greenland’s natural resources more accessible. Phillip Steinberg, a geography professor at the University of Durham, offered a different perspective: “It’s not that climate change is making Greenland’s resources more accessible, but rather ‘more necessary.’”
Resistance to U.S. Interest
Denmark and Greenland have strongly opposed any suggestion of selling the island. Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede declared in a December Facebook post, “We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our yearslong struggle for freedom.”
Former Greenlandic Prime Minister Kuupik V. Kleist echoed this sentiment, stating, “I don’t see anything in the future that would pave the way for a sale. You don’t simply buy a country or a people.”
Despite this opposition, Trump’s remarks have come at a pivotal moment for Greenland. Its Inuit-led government has been advocating for independence from Denmark. In his New Year address, Egede called for the removal of the “shackles of the colonial era.”
Denmark appears to be responding to this push for independence. In December, it announced a significant increase in military spending for Greenland. Additionally, the Danish royal family unveiled a redesigned coat of arms featuring an enhanced polar bear symbol, which represents Greenland.
Economic Challenges and Future Prospects
Greenland’s government has been striving to diversify its economy, which is heavily reliant on fishing. In November, Nuuk opened a new airport to attract more tourists. However, the territory still depends on an annual $500 million grant from Denmark, a financial lifeline that complicates its pursuit of independence.
Dodds speculated on how Greenland might respond to a substantial financial offer from Trump. “What would Greenland do if Trump offered, say, $1 billion a year to have a different kind of association?” he questioned.
Some Greenlandic politicians have floated the idea of a special association with the U.S., similar to the Marshall Islands arrangement. Under such an agreement, Greenland would retain sovereignty while receiving financial support in exchange for granting the U.S. certain strategic rights.
However, Kleist expressed skepticism about this approach. “I don’t think either that (this) is of any interest. Just think of how the U.S. have treated its own Indigenous Peoples,” he remarked.
Uncertainty Surrounding Trump’s Intentions
As Trump prepares to take office, the trajectory of his interest in Greenland remains unclear. “Nobody knows if it’s just bravado, if it’s a threat to get something else, or if it’s actually something that he wants to do,” Pram Gad said.
For now, Greenland remains a focal point of geopolitical, environmental, and economic discussions, with Trump’s ambitions adding a new layer of complexity to the Arctic’s evolving narrative.