Economic and ‘selfish’ reasons Trump is eyeing Greenland for U.S. expansion
In the lead-up to Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, the possible annexation of Greenland into the U.S.—or, as some would put it, it becoming an ‘acquired’ state of the U.S. government—has taken center stage.
Last month, Trump stated that “ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for the United States. Last week, his son, Donald Trump Jr., visited the island, claiming he was gathering materials for a new podcast.
“As someone who has traveled to some fascinating places across the globe as an outdoorsman, I’m excited to stop into Greenland for a little bit of fun this week,” Trump Jr. told the U.S. broadcaster Fox News before his visit, which sparked renewed conversation about his father’s interest in the region.
However, it’s not the first time the discussion of a possible acquisition of the vast, largely uninhabited land—twice the size of Nigeria but with less than 60,000 inhabitants—has emerged.
Before Trump lost his 2020 re-election bid to Joe Biden, the billionaire had shown an interest in acquiring Greenland. After Danish leader Mette Frederiksen described the idea as “absurd,” Trump, in 2019, canceled a scheduled state visit.
Long before Trump’s efforts, 157 years ago, then-Secretary of State William Seward mused about the possibility of acquiring Greenland.
Why Greenland? What’s in it for Trump—or even the U.S.?
Greenland, for starters, is not an independent country but enjoys broad autonomy granted by Denmark in 1979. Denmark, however, still controls its foreign policy and defense. In 2009, the option for independence was introduced, and in recent years, campaigns for independence have grown.
What America Could Gain from Acquiring Greenland
Greenland, an island covering 2.166 million square kilometers—making it larger than any U.S. state—shares proximity with both the United States and Russia, separated by the Arctic Ocean. It is the largest island in the world.
Due to its strategic location in the Arctic region and its largely uninhabited landmass, Greenland is highly coveted. The U.S. sees it as critical to its defense strategy. In the 1950s, the U.S. government built the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, providing missile warning sensors for its armed forces. Owning Greenland could strengthen U.S. security and that of other NATO allies.
Additionally, the Arctic, facing increased ice melting due to global warming, has become a region of intense competition among countries like Russia and China for control.
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Beyond security, Greenland offers untapped economic potential due to its natural resources. It is home to 43 of the 50 minerals considered “critical” by the U.S. government. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Greenland could have up to 52 billion barrels of oil, about 3% of the total crude oil reserve in the world. While these resources have remained untapped due to harsh environmental conditions, the melting ice makes their extraction more feasible, promising enormous economic benefits for those who can exploit them.
More Than Economics: Trump’s Ambition for History
Trump’s interest in Greenland may not be purely economic. Historical territorial expansions like the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, made during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency (1801–1809), and the 1867 purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, championed by then-Secretary of State William Seward, are seen as defining achievements in U.S. history.
Trump’s bold and often imposing nature aligns with his penchant for making grand, attention-grabbing moves that cement his legacy. His interest in Greenland reflects not just strategic ambition but might also be a desire to emulate historic presidents whose territorial expansions defined their greatness.
Thomas Jäger, a political science professor based in Cologne, echoes this sentiment when he speculates that Trump wants to etch his name into history as a “great president” by acquiring Greenland.
“It’s easy to imagine that Trump wants to follow in the tradition of presidents who greatly expanded U.S. territory, like in the 19th century when the United States expanded westwards and bought Alaska,” he said. “This would define him as a truly great president.”
What’s in It for Greenlanders?
Despite Greenland’s high GDP per capita, estimated at $57,116, Denmark pays for half of its government’s expenses. Many Greenlanders see closer cooperation with the U.S. as beneficial but oppose outright purchase by the U.S., which would turn them into another state.
“It would open economic opportunities for us,” one resident told The Economist. Another said, “I wouldn’t mind,” when asked about having an American passport. “But for me, it’s always Greenland first.”
Some residents, however, are staunchly against the idea.
According to The Economist, Ruth, who works at a cultural center, described Trump as “scary,” adding, “We don’t want him here.”
Greenlandic representatives also oppose the idea.
In a Facebook post, Aaja Chemnitz, a member of the Danish parliament from Greenland, said, “I don’t want to be a pawn in Trump’s wild dreams of expanding his empire and including our country in it.”
A 2019 poll suggested that two-thirds of Greenland’s population supports independence.
Meanwhile, Denmark, which still controls Greenland’s foreign affairs, seems unwilling to let go of the island.
“We fully recognize that Greenland has its own ambitions. If they materialize, Greenland will become independent, though hardly with an ambition to become a federal state in the United States,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.
The Uncertain Future
Whether Greenland would resist Trump’s ambition remains uncertain, but the President-elect has not ruled out the possibility of military or economic intervention.
“No, I can’t assure you on either of those two. But I can say this: we need them for economic security,” Trump said recently when asked whether he would promise not to use military or economic coercion to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland.
