President Trump wants Greenland, here’s why
President Donald Trump has repeatedly talked about occupying Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Why does he desire the ice island so much?
- President Donald Trump is pushing ahead with his desire for the United States to acquire Greenland, citing national security concerns.
- Danish and Greenlandic officials have consistently rejected this idea and emphasized Greenland’s sovereignty.
- Polls show that a majority of Americans oppose US control of Greenland.
President Donald Trump continues to express his desire for Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
“With Greenland in American hands, NATO will be much more formidable and effective. Anything less will not be acceptable,” President Trump wrote on Truth Social on January 14.
He has talked about acquiring the Arctic island since his first term, but calls for it have increased in recent weeks since the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. Diplomatic officials from Denmark and Greenland met with US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House on January 14, but it appears the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
“We were unable to change the US position,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said at a news conference. “It’s clear that the president has a desire to conquer Greenland. We’ve made it very clear that this is not in the kingdom’s interests.”
Polls also show that intervention in Greenland is unpopular. A Quinnipiac University poll released on January 14 found that more than 8 in 10 respondents opposed the U.S. armed occupation of Greenland. A CNN/SSRS poll conducted on January 15 found that 75% of people were completely opposed to any attempt to seize power. A Jan. 13 Economist/YouGov poll found that a majority of Americans believe Greenland and Denmark are allies or friends of the United States.
So why does President Trump want a vast ice island? Here’s what he said:
Why does President Trump want to occupy Greenland?
“We need Greenland for our national security,” President Trump said at a press conference on December 22. “You look out on the coast and there are Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need that for national security. We have to have it.”
President Trump has repeatedly returned to national security as a reason for wanting Greenland. The island’s location may also be strategic for the US ballistic missile warning system. In a Jan. 14 post on Truth Social, he said it was “essential to the Golden Dome we are building.”
The island also has important minerals used in industries in which China has near-monopoly power. Greenland has deposits of major minerals such as graphite, copper, nickel, zinc, tungsten, and lithium, all of which are used in the production of modern technology. However, there is currently little mining in Greenland. President Trump also said he has no interest in Greenland, which is rich in mineral resources.
“We have so many mines for minerals, oil and everything else, we have more oil than any other country in the world,” Trump said.
What is Greenland’s response to President Trump’s threat?
Greenlandic and Danish leaders have repeatedly denounced President Trump’s claims that the United States would occupy Greenland.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a joint statement on December 22, saying, “We cannot annex another country. There is no discussion of international security.” “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the United States must not occupy Greenland.”
The majority of Greenlanders reject the idea of becoming part of the United States, although some support independence from Denmark.
After the White House meeting, Rasmussen told reporters he was trying to address U.S. concerns while maintaining Denmark’s borders. He also said that Danish intelligence refutes President Trump’s claims that Chinese ships dot the coastline.
Is Greenland part of NATO?
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and part of NATO.
Several major NATO members, including France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Denmark and the United Kingdom, signed a joint statement released on January 6 defending the country’s right to sovereignty.
“Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark and Greenland, and they alone, decide matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” the statement said.
How big is Greenland compared to the United States?
According to the CIA, Greenland is smaller than the United States and more than three times the size of Texas. The population is approximately 57,000.
Still, the island is the largest non-continental island in the world and is approximately 80% covered in ice.
Greenland is located in the north-eastern part of Canada, in the Arctic region.
Where is Denmark?
Denmark is located in Europe between Germany, Sweden, and Norway.
Contributors: Michael Loria, Kim Hjelmgaard, Francesca Chambers, Carly Procell, Dian Zhang, Ramon Padilla, Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is a Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Please contact KCrowley@usatodayco.com. follow her X (Twitter), blue sky and TikTok.
