President Donald Trump has reiterated his ambitions to acquire Greenland ahead of Vice President JD Vance’s semi-autonomous visit to Danish territory.
“We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need that. We need to have it,” Trump said in an interview Wednesday.
He also told White House reporters: “We need Greenland, and the world needs Greenland, including Denmark,” he added, adding that the US will go “as long as we have to go.”
His comments sparked anger in Greenland, which had been long called for full independence from Denmark. Currently, 85% of the Arctic territory’s population has expressed their dissent that it is based on Washington’s rules.
Trump’s ambitions are also attracting attention elsewhere.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to Trump’s comments, saying his desire for Greenland was not surprising and rooted in history.
Putin explained that the US has long been craving a mineral-rich Arctic Circle amid a global scramble of resources.
Here’s more information about the Arctic scramble and why Greenland is important:
Is Russia worried about the US rule over Greenland?
In a speech at the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk, Russia’s biggest city in the Arctic, Putin said he was serious about Trump taking Greenland and believes the US will continue to strive to win it.
“It would be wrong to believe that this is a kind of luxury from the current US administration that can seem surprising at first glance,” Putin said, adding that it is clear that the United States will “systematically advance geographical, military-political and Arctic economic interests.”
Putin also expressed concern about his Russian neighbours Finland and Sweden, and joined NATO, a transatlantic military alliance between North America and Europe. Finland joined NATO in 2023, while Sweden joined in 2024.
“Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but by increasing its military capabilities and modernizing its military infrastructure, it will closely track development and achieve appropriate responses,” Putin said.
He added that Russia is “open” to working with foreign partners in the Arctic.
“The stronger our position, the more important our results will be, and there will be a wider opportunity to launch international projects in the Arctic Circle, involving countries that are friendly to us.
Why does the Vice President of the United States visit Greenland?
US Vice President J.D. V. V. V. V. V. and his wife Usha Vance are scheduled to land in Greenland on Friday.
According to a statement released by Vance’s office, they will “attach Pitafic Space Station in Northwest Greenland, America’s Northwest Greenland, where White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, “will receive a briefing on Arctic security issues and meet with U.S. service members.”
Greenland’s representative government chief Mute Egede wrote in an online post Monday that Greenland had not actually extended its invitation to official or private visits.
“The current government is a caregiver government waiting for the formation of a new coalition of government, and we kindly requested that all countries respect this process,” the Post read.
Following this, Vances changed its travel itinerary. Usha Vance was originally supposed to visit Avannaata Qimussusu Dogsled Race in Sisimiut, but the couple now only visits US bases.
The change to this plan was welcomed by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rocke Rasmussen, who told the Danish Public Radio Doctor:
But Trump’s comments ahead of his vice president’s trip have been unsettling in both Denmark and Greenland.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen told Danish broadcasters on Tuesday:
“President Trump is serious. He wants Greenland, so [this visit] It cannot be seen independently of other things. ”
Why is Greenland so important to the US?
Since Trump took office on January 20th, he has repeatedly stated he wants to buy Greenland, saying it is important for the US national security.
Greenland is a semi-autonomous Danish territory located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. The island is a former Danish colony.
Geographically, it is part of North America. Its capital, Nuuk, is closer to New York (approximately 2,900km or 1,800mile) than Copenhagen, the Danish capital, located 3,500km (2,174mile) to the east (approximately 2,900km or 1,800mile).
The location that offers the shortest route from North America to Europe is considered strategic to the US. This will leverage Washington’s military and early warning systems for ballistic missiles.
The US is also interested in placing radar in the waters connecting Greenland, Iceland and the UK. These oceans are the gateways to Russian and Chinese ships that the US wants to track.
Greenland is also rich in natural resources, including rare earth minerals used to manufacture technology. A 2023 survey showed that 25 of the 34 minerals considered “critical raw materials” were found in Greenland by the European Commission.
However, most of Greenland’s population of 56,000 residents constitutes Indigenous Inuit people who oppose oil and gas extraction.
Trump is not the first US leader to long for the island. The US has long expressed interest in Greenland.
In 1867, US Secretary of State William H. Seward tried to negotiate with Russia to buy Greenland after the US purchased Alaska from Russia. However, the attempt was not successful. When Greenland was still a Danish colony, in 1946, US President Harry S. Truman proposed to buy the island, Denmark refused.
Is there a scramble for control of the Arctic?
As planets warm up due to climate change, the huge, undeveloped Arctic resources are becoming more accessible. Countries such as the United States, Canada, China and Russia are currently focusing on these resources.
In December 2024, Canada published a policy document detailing its plans to increase its military and diplomatic presence in the Arctic. Russia is also building military facilities and power plants in the area.
Meanwhile, Russia and China have worked together to develop Arctic transport routes as Moscow is trying to get more oil and gas to China amid Western sanctions, but Beijing is seeking alternative transport routes to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Malacca.
The North Sea Route (NSR), a maritime route in the Arctic Ocean, is easier to navigate due to the melting of ice. NSR can significantly reduce delivery trips. Russia hopes to strengthen its commercial transactions through the NSR to trade with Asia more than Europe for Western sanctions. Last year, oil shipments from Russia to China via the NSR increased by a quarter.
China is also investigating the area, sending ten scientific expeditions in the Arctic Circle and building research vessels to investigate ice water in northern Russia.
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