Why Does Trump Want To Buy Greenland? Here’s What To Know

08 Jan 2025 by Sara Dorn · Forbes

Topline

The Danish foreign minister expressed openness to working more closely with the U.S. to ensure its interests in the region are addressed after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants to buy the Danish territory of Greenland—but the foreign minister continued to cast doubt on Trump’s idea to acquire the island.

Donald Trump Jr. arrives in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 7, 2025 in his father's private plane. ... [+] (Photo by EMIL STACH/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images

Key Facts

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told reporters “I think we can all do ourselves a favor and turn the pulse down a little bit,” adding that he has his “own experiences with Donald Trump.”

Rasmussen acknowledged the swelling movement in Greenland for independence from Denmark, but said it was “hardly with an ambition to become a federal state in the United States.”

The comments come after Trump on Tuesday said he would not rule out military force or economic penalties to acquire Greenland and threatened “very high” tariffs on Denmark if it repels his efforts.

His son, Donald Trump Jr., also visited Greenland on for a day trip Tuesday dedicated to tourism.

Trump Jr.’s visit came after Trump has repeated his 2019 suggestion in recent weeks that Greenland should become part of the U.S., writing on Truth Social Monday, while addressing his son’s trip, that Greenland “will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation,” adding “We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside World. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”

What Has The Biden Administration Said In Response To Trump’s Bid For Greenland?

Secretary of State Antony Blinken scoffed at Trump’s idea on Wednesday, telling reporters it’s “obviously not a good one, but maybe more important, it’s obviously not one that’s going to happen, so we probably shouldn’t waste a lot of time talking about it.”

Why Is Trump Pushing To Buy Greenland?

Trump has floated buying the island for years. Trump wrote on Truth Social last month the U.S. should take control of Greenland “for purposes of National security and Freedom.” He also proposed the idea in 2019, telling reporters, “strategically it’s interesting” and calling the theoretical acquisition “essentially . . . a large real estate deal.” The Danish territory is home to the U.S. military’s Pituffik Space Base, and has become increasingly important on a geopolitical scale as melting ice in the Arctic Circle has opened new North Atlantic shipping lanes, drawing interest from U.S. rivals Russia and China. Arctic shipping increased 37% over the past decade, CNN notes, citing the Arctic Council, and the Northwest Passage—a shipping lane that connects the Atlantic and Pacific—passes by Greenland. The island is also part of the strategically important Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap, a chokepoint that Russian ships must transit to travel from the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic. However, as NATO members, the U.S. and Denmark are already closely aligned.

Does Greenland Have Mineral Wealth?

Greenland is thought to be home to a wealth of untapped mineral resources, including coal, zinc, copper, iron ore, diamonds and oil, though only small portions of the island have been explored, in part due to its harsh conditions as it’s predominantly covered by ice and glaciers.

Who Owns Greenland?

Greenland is part of Denmark. The country’s links to the island—home to fewer than 60,000 people, most of whom are Inuit—stretch back centuries: Norse settlers arrived in the territory over a millennium ago before eventually disappearing, and Denmark began colonizing the island in the 1700s. Greenland now has representatives in the Danish parliament, and its local government has gained more autonomy to handle internal affairs in recent decades, though Denmark still controls its foreign relations. In recent years, a push for full independence has grown more prominent. Trump claimed in 2019 Greenland is “hurting Denmark very badly because they’re losing almost $700 million a year carrying it,” referring to Denmark’s financial assistance to Greenland.

Is Greenland For Sale?

No. Greenland became self-governed in 2009, and a change to its ownership or legal status would require an amendment to the Danish constitution, according to Reuters. Leaders in Greenland and Denmark have rebuffed Trump’s suggestions. Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede said last month: “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.” Danish King Frederik also changed the royal coat of arms earlier this month to more prominently feature a polar bear, representing Greenland, and a ram, representing the Faroe Islands—leading to some speculation the move was a message to Trump, though Greenland and Denmark have experienced heightened tensions in recent years as Greenland’s government has called for independence. The Danish royal household did not address suggestions that the changes were made in response to Trump, but said in a statement the three crowns symbolizing the union of Denmark, Norway and Sweden were replaced by the ram and polar bear because they were “no longer relevant,” The Guardian reported. Leaders also strongly dismissed the idea of selling Greenland to the U.S. when Trump first made the suggestion in 2019. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it “an absurd discussion” at the time, and said, “I strongly hope that this is not meant seriously.” The comments prompted a public feud with Trump, who canceled a planned visit to Denmark over Frederiksen’s comments, which he called “nasty” and “inappropriate.”

What Other Territories Has Trump Suggested Taking Over?

Trump has also threatened to demand repossession of the Panama Canal, and facetiously suggested the U.S. should take ownership of Canada. Trump referred to Canada as “the 51st state” in a Truth Social post Monday after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his plans to step down. Trump’s threat in November to impose a 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico has riled Canadian leaders, dividing Trudeau and his allies. Trump said Canada would “be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them” if it joined the United States. Some Canadian politicians have dismissed the suggestion, with Ontario Premier Doug Ford jokingly suggesting Canada should buy Minnesota and Alaska. More seriously, Trump said last month he would demand the “Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, quickly and without question,” unless the Panamanian government met its “moral and legal” requirements,” reiterating his complaints that Panama charges the U.S. “highly unfair” fees for ships passing through the canal. The U.S. built the canal in the 20th century and maintained control of the territory surrounding it for decades, before transferring it to Panama starting in the 1970s. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino dismissed the suggestion of ceding the canal in a video message, saying: “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to PANAMA, and will continue to be.” Trump responded on Truth Social: “We’ll see about that,” and posted a photo of the U.S. flag over the canal with the text “Welcome to the United States Canal!”

Surprising Fact

Former President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold in 1946 to buy Greenland amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Soviet Union. Greenland sat between the two countries and was viewed as a potential battleground. The offer was “seen as a bit of an insult” to the Danish government, Florida State University professor Ronald Doel told The Washington Post.