Shortly after Donald Trump Jr arrived in Nuuk, Greenland capital, on a Trump-branded plane, President-elect Donald Trump held a press conference in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. During the conference, Trump hinted at the possibility of using military force to annex Greenland and threatened to impose steep tariffs on Denmark, Greenland’s governing country, if it resisted. Trump emphasized that control of Greenland and the Panama Canal was critical for U.S. “economic security,” describing it as a strategic acquisition akin to a significant real estate deal. In 2019, he confirmed his interest in purchasing Greenland to his aides.
Greenland’s wealth of raw materials crucial for green technology, such as oil, gas, and rare earth minerals, has drawn international attention, especially from China, which dominates rare earth production and has threatened to limit exports of these critical resources. Trump views acquiring Greenland as a means to counter China’s influence.
The area holds strategic military value, situated between the U.S. and Russia. As climate change accelerates, melting ice opens potential for resource extraction and new Arctic shipping routes, reducing travel time from Europe to East Asia. This geopolitical significance heightens Greenland’s role in defense, and the U.S. maintains a military base at Pituffik (formerly Thule) for missile early warning.
Greenland, inhabited since 2,500 BCE by Inuit people and settled by Norse seafarers in the first millennium CE, was colonized by Denmark-Norway in the 18th century. During World War II, the U.S. occupied Greenland, returning it to Denmark post-war. The country gained home rule in 1979, but Denmark still manages its foreign and security policies.
Recent tensions between Greenland and Denmark have intensified due to historical grievances, including forced contraceptive scandals and the separation of Greenlandic children from their families. Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede has pushed for independence, condemning Denmark’s colonial legacy and advocating for Greenland’s autonomy. However, Trump’s potential influence in the region was not mentioned in Egede’s recent statements.
Trump Jr’s visit precedes parliamentary elections in April, where discussions on independence are expected to escalate. According to a 2009 agreement, Greenland must hold a referendum to achieve independence.
