Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland for the USA is part of a long American tradition of territorial expansion.
The first attempts were made as early as 1868, and in 1946 President Truman offered $100 million (€86 million) in gold.
Today, Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Foreign and defense policy are handled in Copenhagen, while internal affairs are handled in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.
According to international law, an acquisition would require the consent of both governments and take into account the right to self-determination of the approximately 56,000 inhabitants.
Raw materials, strategic location and China’s growing presence
In an interview in early January 2025, Trump did not rule out the use of military force and sent his son Donald Trump Junior to the island with representatives. Elon Musk is also reportedly involved in the background as a potential financier.
According to the Economist, Greenland has deposits of 43 of the 50 critical minerals that are essential for energy production, storage and transmission.
The U.S. Department of Energy warns of supply risks, as the Middle Kingdom has restricted exports. Beijing already has a presence in the Arctic through investments in Greenland’s port infrastructure and mining projects. These projects are part of the Polar Silk Road, through which China seeks to secure its position on future Arctic shipping routes. A US acquisition could disrupt China’s strategy and intensify the rivalry in the Arctic.
Greenland’s location is also strategic. The U.S. base at Pituffik in northwest Greenland is central to missile early warning and space surveillance. A stronger American presence would also improve the monitoring of Russian naval activities in the Arctic Ocean and North Atlantic. American sovereignty could prevent China or other rivals from gaining a foothold, especially in the event of independence.
Potential for conflict in the Arctic and strain on the alliance
Trump sees a growing security gap, exacerbated by the military rapprochement between Russia and China. Canada, Norway and other Nordic states are watching this closely, with Canada insisting on multilateral cooperation, environmental protection and indigenous rights.
Russia may view the U.S. move as a counter-strategy to its own ambitions. Instead of working with NATO partners, Trump is threatening punitive tariffs on Danish exports and is not ruling out the use of force. This could weaken the Western alliance and put pressure on the Arctic Council.
China expands maritime Silk Road network
Parallel to the geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, China is pushing ahead with the expansion of its global shipping network. The Maritime Silk Road Transport Initiative now comprises 128 fixed routes and connects over 50 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.
Since its launch in 2018, 23.9 million TEU have been transported on more than 20,000 voyages, with the port of Xiamen in Fujian province as the most important hub.
Investments in ports such as Gwadar, Piraeus and Lekki, as well as in green technologies and digital control, are securing Beijing’s growing influence in global trade. This increasing networking complements China’s activities in the Arctic, where the melting ice is opening up new routes and further intensifying the struggle for trade routes, resources and influence with the USA.
