What does U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s Idea of taking Control of Greenland, Mean?

On December 23, 2024 U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that the United States “feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity”. Ahead of his inauguration, Trump has reiterated his stand, saying that he does not rule out use of military or economic coercion to gain control of Greenland, also included Panama Canal in the list. Presently, Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, though the island is home-ruled by the Greenlandic people, who number a little more than 55,000. According to reports, Denmark, on its part, gives and annual grant of $521 million to Greenland.

Though only time can reveal what course of geopolitics will unfold, reiteration of Trump shows that he might well be serious on his idea.

Why does Trump want Greenland?

Trump says he wants to take control of Greenland for “national security and freedom”. Seen from the angle of national security, taking control of Greenland would bring the U.S. closer to Europe, which today is fraught by Russian aggression in view of Russia-Ukraine on-going war. The U.S. can thus keep a close eye, militarily too, over Russia and its ally China—China and the U.S. has entered in a very aggressive trade war. China has been exploring trade expansion in Latin American countries as well as exploring close business and geopolitical collaborations with African countries. China’s Foreign Minister has already taken a trip of African countries recently.

Trump during his first term had expressed the idea of buying Greenland, leaving Denmark and other nations surprised. This time, Trump has made his intension public again.

Greenland is not just so in name, it is actually a virgin land, in the sense that its rich mineral resources remain to be tapped. The place extends about 1,660 miles from north to south and about 650 miles from east to west. The nearest European country is Iceland, south-east to which lies the Denmark Strait. Main economy of Greenland is fishing and shrimp hunting. However, Greenland is very rich in minerals. According to reports, minerals that are in huge deposits include copper, lithium, and cobalt—which are essential materials in batteries and electric vehicles. Other mineral resources include cryolite, lead, zinc, silver, coal, iron, uranium and diamond.

China is too aggressive in pushing itself to compete the United States in economy, by expanding its trade and geopolitical outreaches in Latin American and African countries. The U.S. might well be feeling the need to take control of Greenland, not so much for its minerals but for strategic geopolitical reasons. Greenland’s major physical feature is its massive icesheets, with an average thickness of 5,000 feet, and at places even about 10,000 feet. Out of the over 55,000 population in Greenland, only around 10 per cent are from Denmark and rest are Greenlandic, and are primarily Inuit people.

Exploitation of Natural Resources

Global warming has been melting the ice and exploitation of natural gas has been made accessible for quite sometime in Greenland in recent days, though climate and ecological considerations had been limiting exploitation of natural resources for long. Oil drilling around Greenland too, has begun in mid-2010. Moreover, the way in which nations are now in trade competitions, possibility of exploitation of natural resources from ice-covered Greenland in coming days is not too remote. Exploitation of natural resources in Greenland may well be an aim of Trump when he speaks about considering taking control of Greenland.

Can Greenland be Purchased?

Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede has often maintained that the island is ‘not for sale’. Egede wrote on a Facebook post, “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland. Our future and fight for independence is our business. While others, including Danes and Americans, are entitled to their opinions, we should not be caught up in the hysteria and external pressures that distract us from our path. The future is ours and ours to shape.”Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also states that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders”.

Is there any law regarding sale and purchase of a country?

International laws stand majorly for “self-determination”, but military and economic coercion does bring about negotiations. Things depend much on how a move may impact the friendly relations with nations, and in this case how U.S.A’s relations with European NATO countries will be affected. Moreover, Greenland is a country with its own self-rule, though Denmark has been supporting it financially for a historical reason.

Apart from Greenland, Trump also has made it public in recent days about his intention to re-take over the control of Panama Canal for trade security, saying that the Panama Canal is under the control of China now, which is dangerous. Moreover, Trump was concerned about high usage fee of Panama Canal, which is a major sea route for trade for many nations.