In a March 26, 2025, interview, President Trump declared, “We will go as far as we have to,” reaffirming his ambition to acquire Greenland.
Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory between the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, holds vast, untapped natural resources. As climate change accelerates ice melt, access to valuable minerals like graphite, lithium, copper, water, and oil is expanding—resources critical to the global energy transition, particularly in battery production.
Trump’s interest in Greenland dates to his first term, but recent developments suggest it has become a top geopolitical priority.
Manifest Destiny
Trump’s “Make America Great Again” politics is deeply rooted in the 19th-century notion of Manifest Destiny— the belief that the U.S., as a sacred land, has the right to expand its territory to bolster its economy and security.
Geographically part of North America, Greenland offers strategic advantages: shorter routes to Europe and expanded U.S. military influence. From this perspective, some argue that Greenland was destined for American control and wrongfully colonized by Denmark. Trump, recognizing its strategic location and untapped resources, sees it as a key geopolitical asset, with a huge potential not adequately exploited.
Indeed, currently, Greenland has only one drilling center, limiting access to its vast reserves.
However, Trump’s ambitions face strong resistance. The local population, already discontent with Denmark’s political role, is even less receptive to American control. This was evident in the backlash against U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, whose March 28 visit was significantly scaled back. Due to local hostility, they were limited to visiting only the U.S. military base at Pituffik in northern Greenland.
The Promise Land of the 21st Century
Trump’s ambition to annex Greenland also serves to counter geopolitical rivals. Since the 2010s, China has sought to expand its presence through Belt and Road infrastructure projects, but these efforts—often blocked by Greenland’s government with Danish support—have failed. For the U.S., preventing China from gaining a foothold is a strategic economic advantage, given China’s dominance in rare earth extraction and processing, particularly in Europe and the U.S. According to Statista (2023), China holds 70% of the world’s known rare earth reserves, while the U.S. has just 14%. Additionally, China’s close cooperation with Russia, both seeking greater access to Arctic resources and waterways, could bolster BRICS influence in global economic and geopolitical affairs.
Greenland is undeniably a highly coveted territory, but its future depends on competing national priorities. In July 2021, Greenland’s Home Rule Government, led by an environmentalist majority, banned oil exploration to protect the natural environment. However, for major global players, economic gains often outweigh ecological concerns.
We may wonder if recent events align with a show of force from the Trump administration or the beginning of a genuine annexation effort.
For now, the situation remains uncertain, but Greenland’s future is one to watch closely.