Donald Trump has once again argued that the United States needs to control Greenland, reviving a proposal that drew global attention during his presidency and placing the vast Arctic territory at the center of rising competition with Russia and China.
Speaking in recent remarks to supporters and conservative media outlets, Trump said the United States “has to have Greenland” to prevent rival powers from gaining influence in the Arctic. He described Russia and China as increasingly active across the polar region through military expansion, shipping routes and long-term resource planning.
The comments echo Trump’s 2019 proposal that the United States explore purchasing Greenland, a suggestion that was swiftly dismissed by Denmark, which governs the semi-autonomous territory. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the time called the idea absurd, while Greenland’s leaders emphasized that the island is not for sale.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits at a strategic crossroads between North America and Europe. As Arctic ice retreats, new shipping corridors and access to untapped resources are emerging, including rare earth elements, uranium and hydrocarbons.
Russia has invested heavily in Arctic military infrastructure over the past decade, reopening Soviet-era bases and expanding patrols along its northern coastline. China, despite lacking Arctic territory, has declared itself a near-Arctic state and increased investment in research stations, polar shipping and mineral exploration.
Trump has argued that these developments justify a tougher American posture, pointing to Greenland’s role in missile defense and early-warning systems, including the Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base.
Foreign policy specialists say Trump’s rhetoric reflects widely shared concerns, even if his language is unusually blunt. Elaine Morris, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Policy Institute, said the issue is often misunderstood. “The challenge is influence and access, not sovereignty,” she said.
Under international law, Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, with its own elected parliament. Any change in sovereignty would require Danish approval and the consent of Greenland’s population.
The Biden administration has emphasized diplomacy, climate research and multilateral governance through institutions such as the Arctic Council, while still increasing U.S. defense investment in the region.
Trump’s renewed remarks have reignited debate over how the United States should protect its Arctic interests as competition intensifies — and where cooperation ends and confrontation begins.