Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, is calling attention to its vast mineral wealth. Lately though, it has bounced back on the global stage as the United States has returned its focus to the region. President Donald Trump has long desired to acquire Greenland. He describes the move in terms of a national security “absolute necessity.” This interest comes from an equally long historical depth. While Greenland is of course Danish territory, U.S. intentions go back to the 1860s, with a famous—though ultimately unsuccessful—offer to buy the territory from Denmark occurring after World War II.
In a related note, U.S. Vice President JD Vance will be heading a high-profile delegation to Greenland this Friday. The journey reaffirms the United States’ determination to pursue its objectives in the Arctic. This involves increasing geo-strategic positioning, increasing military-political influence and increasing economic opportunities. Vance emphasized the security aspects of the trip, encouraging observers to “check out what’s going on with the security.”
Not everyone shares this enthusiasm. The Greenlandic and Danish governments alike have made clear, emphatic statements ruling out any discussions of the sale. Mutti Egede, Greenland’s outgoing prime minister, has made clear his frustration with the talks as they currently stand.
“Don’t keep treating us with disrespect. Enough is enough.” – Mute Egede
Russian President Vladimir Putin has weighed in on the matter. To scoff at Trump’s effort to gain control of Greenland would be a huge mistake, he cautions. America’s presence in the mineral-rich territory is unsurprising considering its long-standing historical interests, he said.
“It is a profound mistake to treat it as some preposterous talk by the new U.S. administration. Nothing of the sort.” – Putin
Putin lamented that all of the growing conflicts over Greenland and the United States have nothing to do with Russia. Beyond U.S. interests, he emphasized a wider geopolitical interest in the Arctic area.