U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has brought up the idea of the United States taking control of Greenland. This raised many eyebrows as Trump stated that owning the icy island would be in the U.S.’s national and strategic interest.
Greenland, a large island with few people but plenty of ice and snow, is an autonomous territory of Denmark. Despite its remote and cold nature, Greenland holds huge strategic value, with vital trade routes in the Arctic Ocean and rich resources like uranium and precious metals. These resources and trade routes are key to why Trump is so interested.
The island’s prime minister, Mute Egede, strongly rejected any talks of selling Greenland to the U.S. He made it clear that “Greenland is ours,” and that the island will never be for sale. He emphasized how hard Greenland has fought for its independence, making it clear they wouldn’t give up their freedom now.
Trump, while announcing the new U.S. ambassador to Denmark, hinted at why Greenland was important. He said, “Ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” not just for the U.S. but for global freedom and national security. While Trump didn’t specifically mention buying the island, his words made it clear he’s looking at Greenland as a key part of America’s strategic future.
This isn’t the first time Trump has made such suggestions. Back in 2019, one of his aides confirmed that Trump was seriously looking into the idea of purchasing Greenland, calling it “a strategic place” full of valuable minerals. At the time, the idea of buying the island was met with laughter from many, but now, with Trump’s comments, it seems like this conversation is far from over.
Greenland might be sparsely populated—just 55,000 people live there, mostly of Inuit descent—but it is big. Over 2.1 million square kilometers of land sit above key Arctic trade routes. Whoever controls Greenland would also have access to 900,000 square kilometers of underwater land filled with valuable resources. This makes it a prime location for any country wanting to assert influence in the Arctic.
Greenland has been recognized as part of Denmark since 1814 and had full control over its internal matters since 1979, but Denmark still manages its security and foreign policy. The island formally left the EU in 1985 but still maintains ties with Denmark.
Trump’s comments are sparking a lot of debate. While Greenland’s prime minister says they’ll never sell out, the question remains: how far will the U.S. go to make Greenland part of its territory?
