WASHINGTON — Greenland, the vast Arctic island with a population of around 57,000 people, has emerged as a major point of geopolitical interest for the United States under former President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly said that the U.S. “needs” Greenland for national security and strategic reasons.
Trump first made headlines over Greenland in 2019 when he offered to buy the territory from Denmark, only to be rebuffed. In late 2025 he revived his interest, saying the island is vital to U.S. defence and repeatedly renewing the idea that the U.S. should pursue control or a much closer relationship with Greenland.
At the heart of the U.S. interest is Greenland’s strategic military location. The island sits in the Arctic Circle between North America and Europe, and it is home to the Pituffik (Thule) Space Base, a critical facility used by the United States for missile warning systems, satellite tracking and radar surveillance that monitors potential threats from the polar region. Its position along the shortest route between Europe and North America also gives it unique value for air and naval operations in a region that is increasingly important amid rising competition with Russia and China.
As Arctic ice continues to melt due to climate change, Greenland’s location has taken on even greater importance for emerging Arctic shipping lanes that could shorten trade routes between continents, offering economic as well as strategic advantages. Whoever controls Greenland, analysts say, would have influence over access to these new routes.
Greenland is not only strategically placed; it is also rich in natural resources that are critical to modern technology and defence. Surveys have shown that the island contains large deposits of rare earth elements, graphite, lithium and other critical minerals used in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced military hardware. Rare earth metals are currently dominated by China’s supply chain, and U.S. policymakers see Greenland’s resources as a way to diversify and secure essential materials.
These factors have contributed to Trump’s repeated remarks that the United States should consider taking control of Greenland “for defence,” and that its geographic and resource advantages are too valuable to overlook. However, Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, and both Danish and Greenlandic leaders have firmly rejected any suggestion of a sale or annexation, stressing respect for international law and Greenland’s autonomy.
In addition, Greenlanders have the right to pursue full independence from Denmark through a referendum, and a majority oppose becoming part of the United States, preferring to maintain their current status and cultural identity.
While Trump’s comments have drawn international attention and controversy, they highlight Greenland’s growing geopolitical and economic importance at a time when the Arctic is becoming a central stage for global power competition.