Donald Trump Renews Push For Greenland: Why The US 'Absolutely' Needs The Arctic Island
Days after US special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a daring nighttime raid in Caracas, former US President Donald Trump reignited his interest in Greenland.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it. We'll worry about Greenland in about two months... let's talk about Greenland in 20 days,” Trump said aboard Air Force One, on his way back to Washington. In an earlier interview, he added, “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
Trump’s comments sparked international criticism. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the prime minister of Greenland, was quick to respond: “That's enough now. No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law,” he wrote on Facebook.
Trump’s interest in Greenland is not new. In 2019, he publicly suggested buying the Danish territory, but both Greenland and Denmark rejected the idea.
Greenland’s strategic location makes it crucial for the US. The island, home to just 57,000 people, lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, making it vital for military planning and ballistic missile early-warning systems.
“Greenland is geographically part of the North American continent, and it is vital for the United States to prevent any other major powers from establishing a foothold on the island,” Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, told Reuters.
The US already maintains a presence at the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland and has explored expanding military monitoring in the waters between Greenland, Iceland, and Britain, a key route for Russian naval activity and nuclear submarines.
Greenland is rich in rare minerals, oil, and natural gas. A 2023 survey found that 25 of 34 minerals classified as “critical raw materials” by the European Commission are present on the island, including graphite, lithium, and rare earth elements essential for electric vehicles (EVs).
Despite this wealth, Greenland has banned oil and gas extraction to protect its environment. Its economy heavily relies on fishing, which accounts for more than 95% of exports, and it depends on Danish subsidies, which cover about half of the public budget.
Legal Status of Greenland
Greenland became a formal Danish territory in 1953, governed by the Danish constitution. Any change in its legal status would require a constitutional amendment.
Since gaining broad self-governing autonomy in 2009, Greenland has the right to hold a referendum on independence from Denmark. Both Greenland and Denmark firmly rejected Trump’s 2019 proposal to buy the island.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it. We'll worry about Greenland in about two months... let's talk about Greenland in 20 days,” Trump said aboard Air Force One, on his way back to Washington. In an earlier interview, he added, “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
Trump’s comments sparked international criticism. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the prime minister of Greenland, was quick to respond: “That's enough now. No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law,” he wrote on Facebook.
Trump’s interest in Greenland is not new. In 2019, he publicly suggested buying the Danish territory, but both Greenland and Denmark rejected the idea.
Why Greenland Matters
Greenland’s strategic location makes it crucial for the US. The island, home to just 57,000 people, lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, making it vital for military planning and ballistic missile early-warning systems.
“Greenland is geographically part of the North American continent, and it is vital for the United States to prevent any other major powers from establishing a foothold on the island,” Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, told Reuters.
The US already maintains a presence at the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland and has explored expanding military monitoring in the waters between Greenland, Iceland, and Britain, a key route for Russian naval activity and nuclear submarines.
Wealth Beneath the Ice
Greenland is rich in rare minerals, oil, and natural gas. A 2023 survey found that 25 of 34 minerals classified as “critical raw materials” by the European Commission are present on the island, including graphite, lithium, and rare earth elements essential for electric vehicles (EVs).
Despite this wealth, Greenland has banned oil and gas extraction to protect its environment. Its economy heavily relies on fishing, which accounts for more than 95% of exports, and it depends on Danish subsidies, which cover about half of the public budget.
Legal Status of Greenland
Greenland became a formal Danish territory in 1953, governed by the Danish constitution. Any change in its legal status would require a constitutional amendment. Since gaining broad self-governing autonomy in 2009, Greenland has the right to hold a referendum on independence from Denmark. Both Greenland and Denmark firmly rejected Trump’s 2019 proposal to buy the island.
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