US President Donald Trump announced that “massive oil, gas, and mineral exploration” is about to start in Greenland, despite the territory’s ban on new crude drilling and its resistance to US control. He referred to Greenland as “our new and beautiful Greenland” in a social media post celebrating a recent security deal between the US and the island, which is governed by a semi-autonomous government.
The Greenlandic prime minister’s office did not comment on Trump’s statement, and neither did the Danish foreign ministry or Greenland’s ministry of mineral resources. Since 2019, Trump has pushed for the US to acquire Greenland for its strategic location and mineral wealth, even suggesting the use of force. A recent agreement with Denmark and Greenland allowed for increased US military presence on the island but did not grant rights for mining or drilling.
In his post, Trump claimed that experts suggest Greenland holds a significant amount of easily accessible oil but provided no specific details on deals or developments. Greenland had banned uranium mining and future oil exploration in 2021. A Texas firm has said it wants to explore oil in 2027, but lacks a permit due to the ban. Security expert Jacob Kaarsbo warned that Trump’s comments indicate his desire to control Greenland is unchanged. The security agreement reaffirmed Danish sovereignty and the rights of Greenlanders.
With information from Reuters
