US President Donald Trump has announced “massive” exploration for oil and natural gas deposits on the Danish-owned island of Greenland. “Massive oil, gas, and mineral exploration is about to begin in our new and wonderful Greenland,” Trump stated on Tuesday (local time) on his online platform, Truth Social. “Experts say the amount of easily accessible oil there far exceeds that of any other area,” he added.
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However, Trump did not provide specific details regarding possible US involvement. The US president also reiterated the importance of the Arctic island for US security. “Any attack on the United States would have to come via Greenland, where our defense capabilities would systematically shoot down drones, missiles, or any other type of weapon that might yet be invented,” he stated.
As an autonomous territory, Greenland is part of Denmark, a member of both the EU and NATO. For months, Trump repeatedly threatened to annex the island, sparking alarm among NATO partners. In late September, the US signed a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that allows Washington to establish two new military bases there.
The ten-page agreement recognizes Denmark’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the Greenlandic people’s right to self-determination. The US is authorized to build two additional military bases—one in Narsarsuaq in the south and another in Mestersvig in the east of Greenland. Furthermore, the Pituffik base in northwestern Greenland—operational since 1951 and recently housing around 200 military personnel—may be expanded and modernized.
Trump had consistently justified his claims to Greenland by citing US security interests in the Arctic, as well as the need to guard against Russian and Chinese influence. Specifically, the agreement now excludes states—and investors from states—that are not members of NATO or the EU from participating in strategically important sectors in Greenland.
Greenland is geo-strategically well-situated in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, between North America and Europe. The island also lies directly along a potential missile trajectory between Russia and the USA. Furthermore, the island holds valuable natural resources.
An existing defense agreement from 1951—updated in 2004—had already permitted the USA to expand its military presence in Greenland, provided that Denmark and Greenland were informed in advance.
Author: AFP – gav/oer – Translated by Blackout News
Sources: AFP Press Portal