There are three clear reasons why Donald Trump is determined to acquire Greenland, and at first glance, the military option seems the least risky way to obtain it. However, attacking a NATO member would almost certainly spell the end of NATO in its current form. So, the US President may try a different approach.
Greenland, a vast island of 2,166,000 square kilometers, occupies a strategic geopolitical position, situated between the US and Europe and traversing the GIUK gap – a maritime passage between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK connecting the Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean.
Moreover, Greenland hosts rich deposits of natural resources, including oil, gas, and rare earth minerals, making it even more strategically significant. And the US President has had his eyes on it for a long time.
Trump publicly expressed his interest in buying this territory for the first time during his first term in 2019, likening a potential acquisition to a "major real estate deal." But the idea was quickly rejected by Greenlandic and Danish authorities, who insisted that the island is not for sale, as reported by CNN.
The idea was shared in the final days of the White House term, so it was not taken too seriously, being viewed as an eccentric statement in Trump's style.
Shortly after winning the 2024 elections, Trump reiterated his offer from his first term to buy Greenland, which was once again rejected. Almost exactly a year ago, he held a comprehensive press conference at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida, where he did not rule out a military action to take control of Greenland.
Greenland has always been on the Americans' "radar"
However, Donald Trump is not the first American leader interested in ensuring the security of Greenland, the world's largest island.
The US's attraction dates back to the 19th century when then-Secretary of State William H. Seward floated the idea of buying Greenland and Iceland from Denmark shortly after the purchase of the Alaska peninsula from the Russians in 1867.
Although the transaction never materialized, the United States continued to consider the world's largest island at various points in history, discussing at one point a possible exchange with Denmark for American territory in the Philippines.
During World War II, the US took over the defense of Greenland while Denmark was under Nazi occupation, but at the end of the war, the Americans were not eager to leave the island. In 1946, President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold for the island, but Denmark rejected the offer.
In 1949, both the US and Denmark joined NATO, and in 1951, they signed a treaty in which the United States legally committed to defend Greenland.
This was followed in 1953 by the construction of the Thule Air Base by the US, which was later renamed the Pituffik Space Base.
Followed by the construction of the Thule Air Base by the US in 1953, which was later renamed the Pituffik Space Base.
It is evident that America desires Greenland. So, what exactly fuels America's relentless interest in this territory?
The 3 reasons that matter
Washington has three main reasons why it considers Greenland vital to its national security, as outlined in an analysis published by Sky News.
- Early warning on ballistic missiles.
Although Greenland is located in the Arctic Circle and seems to be far north of any direct route between Russia and the US, the Earth is not a perfect sphere - the diameter at the poles is about 43 km smaller than at the Equator.
This means that, in fact, the shortest distance between Russia and the US passes over Greenland.
Therefore, to track and destroy ballistic missiles heading towards the US, tracking and missile capabilities on Greenland's territory are needed - which also explains why transatlantic commercial aircraft fly a route that takes them closer to the pole than the equator.
- Northwest Passage (NWP) and Northern Sea Route (NSR).
Over 90% of global trade takes place by sea, and global warming is opening up new commercial routes that historically have been frozen and impassable for much of the year.
Transporting goods from Europe to Japan means a 21,000-kilometer journey. But this is reduced to 9,600 kilometers via the NSR, generating significant savings.
Securing passage on these new commercial routes is a US security concern.
- Greenland has considerable mineral wealth.
Especially uranium and 50 billion barrels of oil and gas. However, the harsh climate has traditionally made extracting these valuable resources very challenging.
What options does Trump have
But what options could the US consider to meet its security requirements?
- Negotiation - The US already has a military base in Greenland, and Denmark has made it clear that it is open to discussing the expansion of American military presence in the region. However, it is clear that the United States does not trust Denmark's long-term ability to limit Russia and China's continued interest in the region.
- Purchase - The US has tried to buy Greenland many times before. Indeed, in 1946, the US offered $100 million to buy the island (approximately $1.3 billion in today's currency), but they were told that "Greenland is not for sale." Now Trump, being a businessman by nature, can put his favorite game into practice.
- Military action - The United States already has a military presence in Greenland, and the Greenlanders themselves have no national military capability.
Denmark is responsible for the defense and security of Greenland, but it would not be able to counter American military aggression if Trump were to choose this course of action, as stated in the cited analysis.
At first glance, if the US President is determined to secure Greenland, the military option is probably the least risky.
However, attacking a NATO member would almost certainly spell the end of NATO in its current form and would throw many European countries into a security crisis, given the very real threat posed by Russia at present. Additionally, America's longstanding relationship with Europe would be shattered for a long time to come, something of which Washington cannot afford to be unaware.