Why Donald Trump want Greenland?

He’s yet to take the presidency and Donald Trump has made headlines for other reasons, usual for him, controversial. He wants to include some parts of Europe in the US territory. For this he does not hesitate to use military or economic power to any extent.  

He wants Greenland, Canada, Denmark and what not to make a ‘greater America’. "Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation," Trump said in a Truth Social post on Monday. "This is a deal that must happen," Trump said on Tuesday as his son, Donald Trump Jr., paid a private visit to Greenland. 

Greenland is a mineral-rich and strategically important island. It is mostly covered with ice and has a mere 57,000 citizens. Trump first wanted to buy the island from Denmark in 2019, but his interest was rejected.  

Why does Trump want Greenland? 

Greenland, part of NATO through the membership of Denmark, has strategic significance for the US military and for its ballistic missile early-warning system since the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the Arctic Island. 

Trump might seem to be greedy, but he has some practical reasons to acquire the land into the US. Greenland is strategic for US military reasons as it can offer its ballistic missile early-warning system being situated on the shortest route from Europe to North America.  

Greenland is an artic island that is part of NATO through the membership of Denmark. The US military has a permanent base in the northwest of Greenland. It has showed interest in expanding its presence in the region, which if happened would see radars that would be useful in monitoring the waters between the island, Iceland and Britain as these areas provide a path for Russian navy vessels and nuclear submarines. 

Greenland is situated in the North American continent is a strategic part of the area and therefore, the US wants to make it part of itself to prevent European powers to make it their stronghold.  

Greenland’s strategic benefits 

The Arctic island’s capital Nuuk is nearer to New York than Denmark’s capital Copenhagen. The island is a hub of mineral, oil and natural gas wealth; however, development has been sluggish. 

Greenland has banned extraction of oil and natural gas for environmental reasons, and development of its mining sector has been snarled in red tape and opposition from indigenous people. 

25 out of 34 minerals that the European Commission considered "critical raw materials" were found in Greenland, according to a 2023 survey. They include substantial amounts of lithium and graphite, two components used in batteries, as well as so-called rare earth elements utilized in wind turbines and electric cars. 

This has kept Greenland's economy reliant on fishing, which accounts for over 95% of exports, and annual subsidies from Denmark, which cover roughly half of the public budget. 

In total, Denmark spends just under $1 billion each year on Greenland.