Donald Trump Jr., the son of President-elect Donald Trump, touched down in Greenland in Trump Force One on January 7. His visit happened in the wake of his father’s assertion that the U.S. must own the Arctic region. Trump Jr. stated that his purpose for the visit was to create video content for his podcast, describing it as a “very long personal day trip.”
Trump Jr. landed in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. However, officials there made it clear they had no plans to meet with him during his stay. Their refusal to engage with him indicates the rising conflict between the U.S. and Greenland over the region’s sovereignty.
President-elect Trump assured the residents of Greenland that they would be treated well, but he did not exclude the possibility of using military power or economic pressure to secure the territory. He cited national security as a reason for this stance and proposed implementing “very high level” tariffs on Denmark if they refuse to enter into negotiations regarding Greenland.
The government of Greenland has categorically rejected any prospect of the U.S. taking over. Aaja Chemnitz, a member of the Greenland parliament, expressed that Greenland is not “MAGA” and that the U.S.’s interest in the island is seen as “quite scary and uncomfortable” by a majority of the population.
Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, described Trump’s proposal as “absurd,” asserting that “Greenland is not for sale.” The Danish government has since emphasized Greenland’s importance by enhancing its presence in the country’s coat of arms.
The strategic importance of Greenland has long been recognized by the U.S., which maintains a significant military presence at Thule Air Base, home to a ballistic missile early-warning system. This base, situated 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, houses around 600 U.S. military personnel and civilian contractors.
Greenland’s vast resources of rare earth metals and natural resources have been increasingly accessible due to melting ice. Geological surveys estimate that Greenland has the world’s largest untapped deposits of rare earth elements, which are vital for manufacturing electronics and military equipment. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the territory has 38.5 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and natural gas.
Múte Egede, the Prime Minister of Greenland, has emphasized the territory’s push toward independence from Denmark, expressing their desire to “remove the shackles of colonialism.” Although this independence movement has gained momentum, the citizens are split over the timing and economic implications.
Greenland currently receives an annual subsidy of approximately $600 million from Denmark, which constitutes about two-thirds of its government budget. Any move towards independence would necessitate finding alternative sources of this substantial financial support.
Since 1979, Greenland has enjoyed a unique autonomous status within the Kingdom of Denmark, with the Self-Government Act of 2009 granting Greenland authority over most domestic matters. Denmark continues to retain control over foreign affairs, defense, and monetary policy.
Historically, the U.S. has attempted to purchase Greenland, including a 1946 offer of $100 million to Denmark. Today, the territory’s 57,000 residents, predominantly Indigenous Inuit people, are grappling with complex questions of sovereignty and economic development as the interest of global powers in their homeland continues to rise.
Greenland’s strategic location along the Northwest Passage, a potential major shipping route due to melting Arctic ice, adds to its geopolitical significance. Notably, after U.S. diplomatic intervention, Denmark thwarted Chinese attempts to invest in Greenland’s infrastructure.