“We will keep you safe, we will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before,” said President Donald Trump as he threatened to take over the Danish territory.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, has long stood as a remote Arctic expanse, defined by its rich indigenous culture, harsh winters, and dominant glaciers. Though the frontier has often been isolated from the geopolitical landscape, Trump’s recent threats of conquest have thrust it into the spotlight.
Indigenous Foundations
The history of the semi-autonomous island traces back to 2500 B.C.E., when the Paleo-Inuit Saqqaq people settled in Northwest Greenland. Following a series of migrations, Erik the Red and his accompanying Norse explorers inhabited the southern fjords of the island in the 980s, establishing pastoral and fishing communities. After the Early Norse settlements began to fade out, the now culturally dominant Greenlandic Inuit migrated to the island in the early 1000s. Inuit migration coincided with the colonial ventures of Denmark-Norway, and soon the European power began to spread Christianity throughout the new island. Through the Danish imposition of power, trade links were created with the Greenlandic people. By 1721 C.E., the Danes had established a full settlement near Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and eventually assumed full control of the commercial activities of the island.
While Greenland was granted self-rule in 2009, the territory remains forced to grapple with the legacy of Danish colonialism. Their economy is still sustained in large part due to the block grant that the Danish government pays, a grant which amounts to the equivalent of $651 million. The heavy reliance of the economy on Denmark makes some Greenlandic citizens hesitant on moves for independence.
The vast and rapid modernization process enacted by the Danes also had a detrimental effect on the social world of Greenland. Luckily, shifting paradigms means that the colonial power is confronting their history now more than ever. In 2022, the Danish prime minister apologized to the surviving Inuits of a harsh social experiment where indigenous children were taken from their parents in an attempt to turn them into a group of elite Danish-speaking Greenlanders. In the process, the children lost their Inuit identities and most were never reunited with their families.
Despite accountability from the Danes, the U.S. seeks to continue this legacy of colonialism as President Trump remains fixated on the Arctic territory.
America’s Advances
Amidst a rare earth mineral (REM) tug-of-war, the United States has begun making advances on the icy territory. Greenland is home to crucial minerals like lithium and zirconium, making it a prime spot for U.S takeover. These minerals can aid in the creation of batteries, a shift to renewable energy, and even more sophisticated medical imaging.
With China and Russia advancing their REM interests, the U.S believes that acquisition of Greenland can restore the nation at the helm of the geopolitical landscape.
Trump’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, has expressed this belief, remarking, “This is about critical minerals. This is about natural resources. The Chinese are now cranking out ice breakers and pushing up there as well. So it’s oil and gas. It’s our national security.”
Greenland also occupies a strategic position: the island is situated along the Northwest Passage and Transpolar Sea Route, both of which can play a critical role in advancing commercial trans-arctic interests. As the ice caps melt and the world grows warmer, these routes are becoming increasingly viable for shipping, allowing commercial vessels to avoid congested maritime zones and make trading more efficient.
With the immense political significance the island holds, this isn’t the first time Trump has threatened invasion—2019 was the first time he brought up the prospect, referring to Greenland as “a large real-estate deal.” However, it seems that the United States is closer than ever to following through with this vision. JD and Usha Vance made a “cultural visit” to the territory recently, though their stay rang a more foreboding tune as the message of the U.S remained clear: Greenland is a vital pawn to the American chessboard, and they will not back down.
Trump has declared that military force is “not off the table” in regards to Greenland’s takeover, which has left citizens angry and anxious with the looming threat of American aggression.
“When [Trump’s] son arrived here, Donald Trump Jr., it was a realization moment. The words are no longer just words. They are now the reality. It felt like being hit in the stomach,” describes Greenlandic citizen Qupanuk Olsen following a series of visits from the president’s advisors.
Olsen shares the sentiment of many others living in Greenland—a recent poll concluded that 85% of the population is not interested in becoming part of the U.S.
Despite explicit discontent, the island remains coveted by the western superpower.
An Inevitable Reaction
Trump’s foreign policy, while hailed by the far-right as one that reinvigorates the American dream, is increasingly threatening the U.S’ alliances—Greenland is no exception. The territory is looking to expand and diversify their commercial and business activities, but Trump’s increased pressure is deterring them from solidifying ties with the U.S.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Greenland’s minister for natural resources Naaja Nathanielsen expressed her discontent with Trump’s rhetoric, stating, “We sort of hoped that the Trump administration would be more willing to engage in dialogue with Greenland about the mineral sector development. We got a bit more than we asked for, because we have no wish to be American.” Instead, the Nordic island may turn to China or Russia for investment in their untapped minerals, which would give America’s adversaries a major upper hand.
A Greenlandic-American relationship is growing more precarious by the minute, and any more pressure could make it snap. Unfortunately for Greenland, it has to deal with more than just fending off attacks on the geopolitical front.
Greenland’s Position in the Climate Crisis
Despite Greenland’s name invoking a scene of lush green fields and landscapes, the land is actually painted fully white—a vast ice sheet coats its surface. This ice, however, is melting fast. Greenland is losing more ice than its gaining, amounting to a loss of 234 billion tons of ice per year. This makes the territory a major contributor to rising sea levels, but their REM-rich land is also what gives it political significance in the wake of the climate crisis.
With Trump’s recent withdrawal from the Paris Treaty, the issue becomes more pressing by the minute, threatening the livelihoods of the Inuit and the global population. More and more countries turn to the land to extract REMs, which are believed to revolutionize the renewable energy industry by making clean energy storage more efficient. That puts all eyes on Greenland, and leaders are just waiting to pounce.
What’s in store for Greenland in the coming months?
There is no doubt that Greenland’s future is filled with uncertainty. Trump’s vows of a takeover has thrust the status of the island under great scrutiny, despite living in isolation for so long. As Greenland continues to manage its relationship with the international community, issues of independence must remain central to discussions on its future. The question on how to balance economic security and political autonomy will significantly shape the trajectory of Greenland in the coming years. The future of Greenland is one of great importance—not just for their population but the world as a whole.
Despite accountability from the Danes, the U.S. seeks to continue this legacy of colonialism as President Trump remains fixated on the Arctic territory.