Since President Trump’s 2024 re-election, his second term has been marked with growing tension on an international level, particularly concerning Russia and China. This increased global tension has brought up points about Greenland and its strategic significance for American defense. Recently, there have been more Russian and Chinese warships patrolling Greenland’s waters, culminating in Trump’s public proclamation for Danish territory.
Trump has chalked down multiple reasons behind Greenland’s importance, such as its strategic location, security benefits, important shipping routes, and abundance of key natural resources.
Greenland is conveniently placed in the middle of the US, Russia, and Europe, making it a key strategic point that will provide future economic and defensive benefits.
“It’s so strategic right now,” President Trump told CBS reporters. “Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”
Greenland also holds one of the US’ most important military installations, Pituffik Space Base. Formerly known as Thule Air Base, it was established in 1951 and meant to control air activity in the area. To keep up with developing technologies, a ballistic missile warning system was added in 1961. Renamed to Pituffik Space Base in 2023, it continues its early ballistic warning system in addition to new advancements in space surveillance.
“The U.S. has had this base there since the Cold War, decades and decades. It’s super important to Homeland Defense,” Rebecca Pincus, member of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said to Fortune.
Trump has highlighted this heightened activity of Chinese and Russian warships in Greenland’s waters as an important security threat to the United States. This highlights the growing tensions culminating over the years.
“I’m mostly worried about the problems taking Greenland would cause,” senior Quincy Grabbenstein said. “Like in the past, drafting us into war is a real possibility. I don’t want to fight in a war thats avoidable.”
Activity surrounding Greenland has remained largely unchecked by the Danish country, with representatives attributing this to the US’ abandonment of the territory concluding the Cold War.
“Throughout the Cold War, the U.S. had a line of radar stations across Greenland and the U.S. chose to close down those radar stations because the Cold War ended,” Greenland Representative Mikkel Olesen told CBS News. “The status quo before Donald Trump was that the U.S was very happy about being able to just have a free hand in Greenland to handle those issues.”
Greenland is surrounded by immensely valuable trade routes that would provide the US significant economic opportunity. Currently, the Northwest passage, the one used by the US, is not available year round. With melting ice, new northern paths will emerge which leaves shorter, more fuel efficient routes between Asia/Europe.
Among the strategic benefits Greenland holds, the territory holds an extensive amount of untapped amount of natural resources. The island contains an estimated 40 million tons of rare Earth metals, which is second worldwide. These resources, such as oil reserves, natural gas, lithium, and graphite would supplement the US’ industry and growing consumerism. Some of these resources, such as lithium, are mainly extracted abroad. China currently produces 70% of rare Earth elements which produces a concern as the demand for these elements continues growing and so does the tension between nations.
“I think there are some important points in favor of taking Greenland,” Senior Zach Deveny said. “Its a very strategic point when you factor in Russia/China and controlling it would mean tapping into very valuable resources.”
An unfortunate downside regarding mining the natural resources of Greenland would be the hefty price tag with it. Due to the extremely harsh weather in the area, mining operations would only be feasible six months of the year. This means mining equipment would be left outside in these conditions for months. The infrastructure of Greenland also comes into question, there are basically no roads connecting each settlement and not many ports to import equipment. A large scale mining operation would not be plausible on the island due to the lack of energy and development in the area.
“If anything, there needs to be a diplomatic agreement for the opportunity to enter Greenland,” history teacher Melissa Peterson said. “It’s a territory of Denmark and the people of that country are especially against this situation.”
In a national poll provided by the Danish Berlingske (a popular Danish newspaper), 85 percent of participants opposed joining the Unites States. Nine percent put “undecided” and an underwhelming six percent of Danish participants voted for joining the United States.
Domestically a favor for Greenland’s takeover is virtually nonexistent. Many members of Congress also openly oppose the proposal. Senators such as Rep. Thom Tillis, Don Bacon, and Mitch McConnell have spoken out against the action, with Bacon telling Politico it was, “the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Purchasing another country that does not want to be purchased sets a bad precedent,” Peterson said. “There are so many international organizations and treaties which would be violated if we just went and took over a country.”
