> At a Glance
> – President Donald Trump renewed calls for the U.S. to control Greenland as Arctic tensions rise
> – Denmark and Greenland’s government both oppose any U.S. takeover
> – 56,000 residents, mostly Inuit, live on the island that sits 80% above the Arctic Circle
> – Why it matters: Greenland’s location guards key shipping lanes and holds rare earth minerals vital to future tech
Greenland is suddenly at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war as melting ice opens Arctic trade routes and exposes vast mineral wealth.
Arctic Location Drives Global Interest
The island’s position off Canada’s northeast has made it a North American defense cornerstone since World War II, when U.S. troops occupied it to keep Nazi Germany at bay.
Today, thinning ice is:
- Creating a new northwest passage for global shipping
- Reigniting U.S.-Russia-China competition for resources
- Giving Greenland strategic value it never had before
Rivals Make Their Moves
China declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in 2018 and wants a Polar Silk Road through the region.
Russia has:
- Reopened Soviet-era Arctic bases since 2014
- Stationed its Northern Fleet in the region
- Signaled it could resume nuclear tests if needed
> Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned:
> > “Do we want the Arctic Ocean to transform into a new South China Sea?”
U.S. Already Has a Foothold
The Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland tracks missiles and watches space for NATO, operating under a 1951 treaty with Denmark.
Thomas Crosbie, Royal Danish Defense College, says a U.S. flag over Nuuk would change nothing:
> “The United States will gain no advantage… they already enjoy all of the advantages they want.”
Denmark’s parliament last June let U.S. troops use Danish air bases and would cancel the deal if Washington tries to annex any part of Greenland.
Copenhagen Fortifies the Island
Denmark plans:
- 14.6 billion kroner ($2.3 billion) for Arctic surveillance
- 3 new Arctic naval vessels
- 2 long-range surveillance drones plus satellite capacity
- Elite Sirius Dog Sled Patrol already conducts Arctic reconnaissance
Rare Earth Jackpot
Greenland holds deposits of rare earth minerals used in:
- Cellphones
- Computers
- Batteries
Development is tough thanks to harsh weather and strict environmental rules, but Western nations want to cut China’s market dominance.
Key Takeaways
- Trump insists “we need Greenland” for security; EU allies back him
- Denmark and Greenland say the island’s future is for residents to decide
- U.S. military already operates key bases under existing treaties
- Russia and China are expanding Arctic presence as ice melts
- Rare earth minerals beneath Greenland’s ice could shape tomorrow’s tech economy
With Russia’s war in Ukraine sharpening European fears, the Arctic island once seen as a frozen outpost now sits at the heart of 21st-century power politics.
