The Strategic Value of Greenland (And Trump’s Interest In It)

Since his first presidency, Donald Trump has spoken of annexing Greenland, an idea that was greeted with mocking, disbelief, and criticism. Almost immediately into his second term, Trump has repeated his desire to gain control of Greenland several times, saying that US control of Greenland is crucial for “national security and even international security.”

Why has Trump fixated on Greenland, a seemingly harmless and random island in the middle of the Arctic? Let’s explore. 

Greenland Basics

Greenland, the largest island in the world, is located in the Arctic and has a population of nearly 57,000, of which about 90% are Inuit or Inuit-Danish. 

Formerly a colony and later a province of Denmark, Greenland won self-rule in 1979. Since then, its government oversees domestic matters such as education and healthcare, while Denmark retains control over foreign, defense, and security policies. 

In 2009, Greenland passed an act giving it the right to declare full independence from Denmark, which many believe is inevitable, but economic dependence has thus far kept it tethered.

Greenland Has Turned Down Repeated US Attempts at Acquisition

Trump is not the first US president to try to acquire Greenland. In 1867, US Secretary of State William H. Seward tried to negotiate a deal with Denmark, but failed, largely due to Denmark’s reluctance to sell and limited strategic interest from the United States at the time. In 1946, the US offered to buy Greenland for $100 million (equivalent to $1.2 billion today), but the Danish government rejected the offer. 

Similarly, today, Greenland’s response to Trump’s rhetoric has been mostly negative. Greenland Prime Minister Mute B. Egede wrote on social media, “Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) is ours. We don’t want to be Americans, nor Danes; We are Kalaallit. The Americans and their leader must understand that. We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken. Our future will be decided by us in Greenland.”

Egede, also described the recent visit by U.S. officials — including Vice President J.D. Vance Second Lady Usha Vance on separate trips— as “highly aggressive,” criticizing it as an overstep amid rising tensions over American interests in the region.

That sentiment is not limited to Greenland’s leadership. Public opinion across the island overwhelmingly supports independence and self-determination. A poll conducted in January revealed that 85% of Greenlanders oppose any attempt by the U.S. to acquire the country or assert deeper control.

Three Ways Greenland Holds Strategic Value for the US

With objections from within and without, Trump is continuing to push ahead with his agenda. There are three main areas in which Greenland can contribute value to the US: military, trade, and natural resources. 

1. Military/Defense

The US has a history of military involvement in Greenland. After the Nazis invaded Denmark during World War II, the US invaded Greenland, establishing a military presence there. In 1951, the US signed a defense agreement with Denmark allowing the former to build and maintain military bases there. 

The Pituffik Space Base, a US military installation that specializes in early missile warning, defense, and space surveillance, has been operating in Greenland since World War II, and today is considered crucial for US national security, as Greenland is the shortest route for nuclear weapons from Russia. 

Greenland is also strategically positioned to monitor Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

2. Future global trade

Greenland’s location along two potential shipping routes makes it a highly strategic area for global trade, and its importance will only increase with time, as global warming increases and ice melts on a large scale. 

The shipping routes include the Northwest Passage, connecting Northern Europe and North America, and the Transpolar Sea Route, which runs through the center of the Arctic. Due to the dangers of floating ice and weather conditions, these routes are not currently used for major global shipping, but as ice melts, they may become more usable, reducing shipping times and bypassing bottlenecks like the Suez and Panama Canals. 

Should these routes open, global trade as we know it will change significantly, and Greenland is likely to play a major role in trade management and safety. 

3. Natural resources

Greenland is home to untapped caches of rare earth minerals, necessary for producing various high-tech products, including smartphones, computers, batteries, and green technologies. The Greenland government, however, has placed strict limits on mining and has completely banned oil exploration, citing concerns over the environmental impacts of drilling.

The United States was once the world’s leading producer of rare earth minerals, but China has since taken the lead. Taking control of Greenland would grant the US access to these minerals, both for its own use and for foreign exports. As Arctic ice continues to melt, these mineral deposits are becoming increasingly accessible.

Trump’s Bid for Greenland Seeks to Place US at Number One

Trump’s agenda, seemingly hawkish for this day and age, must be viewed against the backdrop of intense global competition between Russia, China, and the US. Gaining control of Greenland would give the US significant advantages over its competitors and secure its place as the number one global leader. 

Greenland indeed possesses several ways to bolster US military operations, expand trade, and increase access to natural resources. Of course, Trump cannot forcefully take control of another country — long and complex negotiations are likely ahead, if Greenland leaders are willing to entertain any offers at all.