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Trump Eyes Greenland for US, Not Ruling Out Military or Economic Coercion Amid Rejections

Jan 8, 2025, 03:31 PM

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his desire to make Greenland a part of the United States, emphasizing its strategic and economic importance. Trump has not ruled out using military or economic power to persuade Denmark to relinquish control of the island. Greenland, a semi-sovereign territory under the Danish realm and a NATO member through Denmark, is significant for the U.S. military due to its ballistic missile early-warning system and its proximity to North America. The U.S. maintains a permanent presence at the Pituffik air base in Greenland's northwest. The island, home to 57,000 people, is rich in minerals, including critical raw materials like graphite and lithium, which are essential for modern technology. However, Greenland has banned the extraction of oil and natural gas for environmental reasons. Despite Trump's interest, both Greenland and Denmark have historically rejected offers to buy the island, with Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede asserting that the island is not for sale and that its future should be determined by its people. Greenland's economy relies heavily on fishing and annual subsidies from Denmark, amounting to just under $1 billion each year. Any move towards independence or association with the U.S. would require a constitutional amendment and need to consider these economic dependencies.