Trump’s push to acquire Greenland reignites tensions with island leaders

Five nations currently possess Arctic claims: Russia, Canada, Norway, the US through Alaska, and Denmark through Greenland. A US purchase of Greenland would substantially increase its presence in the Arctic and provide Washington with a better position to regulate future trade lanes and seabed claims.

Military and energy security in focus

Trump has also presented the issue in national security terms. In March, he informed the US Congress that Greenland is "very, very important" for defence purposes, citing the long-standing US missile base at Pituffik (formerly known as Thule). Trump intends to develop it into part of a new "Golden Dome" missile defence system aimed at fending off China and other would-be competitors. Plans for the system, requested by executive order, are to be submitted by the end of March.

Concurrently, American leaders fear the emergence of an expanding Russia–China partnership in the Arctic. While Russia currently holds tremendous territory there, and China increasingly craves greater access to its resources and commerce, Trump considers Greenland an indispensable balance against the forthcoming alliance.

Rare earth treasures and mineral domination

Greenland also has large deposits of rare earth minerals — cobalt, lithium, nickel, and copper — that are needed for high-tech production and the energy shift. These are hard to extract because of Greenland's climate and environmental regulations, but with demand increasing worldwide, particularly in competition with China, Trump believes there is a chance.

Controlling Greenland would enable the US to directly compete with China's current hegemony of the world's mineral supply chains. The Trump administration has prioritized rare earths as a top priority in foreign and domestic economic policy — including current negotiations with Ukraine.

Climate change and economic transformation

Climate change is melting ice at a fast pace, converting Greenland into a new frontier for development at a rapid speed. Over 11,000 square miles of ice disappeared over the last three decades, revealing land that was previously not reachable to explore or mine.

Greenland's own authorities are moving tentatively in this direction. Though most locals view mining as a way to gain independence from Denmark, the island imposed tough environmental protections, such as a 2021 prohibition on uranium mining. But should Trump prevail in his land grab, those measures might be reversed.

An unwelcome message from Washington

For the time being, Greenland stands firm in its defiance. Egede cautioned that the visit of the U.S. delegation could spur additional political pressure in America and increase instability for the people of Greenland. "The only purpose is to show power over us," he said.

Trump's Arctic plans can be calculated, but to Greenland's politicians, they seem like a threat — one that is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.