Trump's Greenland Ambition: Why Is the Arctic Island So Crucial?

The U.S. President-elect hints at military or economic means to acquire Greenland, home to a key American military base.

At a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Tuesday, United States President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his interest in acquiring Greenland, citing its strategic importance to American national security.

Trump, who is set to assume office on January 20, did not dismiss the possibility of using military or economic pressure to achieve this goal. He has also previously expressed interest in making Canada the 51st U.S. state and reclaiming control of the Panama Canal as part of a broader vision of territorial expansion since his election in November.

But why is Greenland, an icy landmass more than 3,000 km (1,864 miles) from Washington, D.C., so significant? And has the U.S. attempted to acquire it before?

Greenland’s Status and Strategic Position Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic. Though geographically part of North America, it remains an autonomous Danish territory with a population of around 56,000, primarily Indigenous Inuit people.

Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, is closer to New York (approximately 2,900 km or 1,800 miles) than to Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital (3,500 km or 2,174 miles). Under Danish rule since the 18th century, Greenland gained self-governance in 1979 and has had the right to vote for independence since 2009.

Prime Minister Mute Egede has advocated for Greenland’s independence from Denmark. The Arctic island, one of Denmark’s two autonomous territories (alongside the Faroe Islands), is indirectly part of NATO through Denmark’s membership. Though not an EU member, Greenland maintains an association with the bloc under its overseas territories framework.

Greenland and Denmark Respond to Trump’s Push Trump’s assertion that "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity"—posted on his Truth Social platform on December 23—was met with strong opposition from Greenland’s leadership.

Prime Minister Egede firmly rejected Trump’s claim, stating, "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom."

Denmark swiftly reacted by announcing a $1.5 billion boost in defense spending for Greenland. Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen declared that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders," and Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen emphasized that the island has no intention of becoming a U.S. federal state.

Christine Nissen, a chief analyst at the Copenhagen-based think tank Europa, stated that any U.S. attempt to forcefully claim Greenland would constitute a violation of both Greenland’s sovereignty and Denmark’s rights under international law. She added that Denmark and the EU must balance standing firm on sovereignty while maintaining a cooperative relationship with the U.S.

Why Does the U.S. Want Greenland? This is not the first time Washington has set its sights on Greenland. Trump previously proposed buying the island in 2019, an idea Denmark swiftly dismissed. The U.S. has maintained a military presence at Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) since World War II.

Strategically, Greenland provides a critical route between North America and Europe, giving the U.S. a tactical advantage for missile defense and Arctic military operations. Washington is also interested in expanding its military radar presence in the waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom—an area crucial for monitoring Russian and Chinese naval activity.

Beyond military interests, Greenland is rich in valuable minerals, including rare earth elements essential for high-tech industries. A 2023 survey found that Greenland contains 25 of the 34 minerals classified as "critical raw materials" by the European Commission. However, large-scale resource extraction faces opposition from the island’s Indigenous population, and Greenland’s economy remains largely dependent on fishing.

A History of U.S. Interest in Greenland The U.S. has attempted to purchase Greenland before, notably in 1867 and 1946.

After acquiring Alaska from Russia in 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward sought to negotiate Greenland’s purchase, but the effort failed. During World War II, American forces occupied Greenland after Nazi Germany invaded Denmark, establishing a long-term military presence.

In 1946, President Harry S. Truman secretly offered Denmark $100 million to buy Greenland, but the deal was rejected. This covert attempt only became public in 1991.

The Greenland Size Misconception Greenland, at 2.17 million square km (836,330 square miles), is about three times the size of Texas. However, due to the Mercator map projection, the island often appears much larger in comparison to its actual size. Some maps even distort its dimensions to look nearly as large as Africa, whereas Africa is 14 times bigger than Greenland.

Trump Jr.’s Visit to Greenland Donald Trump Jr. arrived in Greenland on Tuesday, though the Greenlandic government clarified that his visit was personal and that no official meetings would be held. Despite this, Trump took to Truth Social, claiming that “the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA’” and suggesting that they would benefit from becoming part of the U.S.

International Reactions Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland has sparked concern among European leaders, raising questions about transatlantic relations.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed the idea, warning that "borders must not be moved by force," while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasized that the EU would not tolerate external interference in its territories.

Nissen from the Europa think tank warned that any attempt to take Greenland by force could "fundamentally rupture" U.S.-EU relations and undermine NATO. She stressed that European diplomacy must focus on preventing such threats from becoming a reality while ensuring stability in the Arctic region.

With tensions rising, the coming months could shape the future of Greenland’s status in global geopolitics.