Why is President Donald Trump Obsessed With Taking Greenland?

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President Donald Trump is once again fixated on taking Greenland, a self-governing territory under the Kingdom of Denmark. Despite years of flat rejection from both Copenhagen and Nuuk, the Trump administration has returned to the idea with greater force, pressing for strategic control over the Arctic island while dismissing diplomatic objections. Greenlanders, for their part, have been vocal in their resistance. Yet Trump’s ambitions show no signs of cooling.

Greenlanders Are Angrily Pushing Back

Earlier this week, U.S. Vice President JD Vance canceled his planned visit to the Greenlandic capital and a local dog-sled race following protests and political backlash. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen praised Greenlanders for standing their ground against American pressure, while Greenland’s own leaders reiterated their rejection of becoming part of the United States.

Greenland’s recent elections saw a surprising win for a centrist party that wants gradual independence from Denmark but rejects Trump’s annexation ambitions. Opinion polls confirm that nearly 85% of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the U.S. The message is clear: the people who live there want no part of Trump’s vision.

However, Trump’s remarks on radio this week made one thing clear: he is not giving up. “We have to do it,” he said. “We have to convince them.”

But What’s Driving the Obsession?

From a geopolitical standpoint, Greenland sits at a critical intersection. Its location offers surveillance advantages over potential missile paths from Russia, and it already houses the U.S.-operated Pituffik Space Base. With China and Russia expanding their military and economic footprints in the Arctic, Trump insists that U.S. control of Greenland is vital to national and international security.

The island’s untapped natural resources are also part of the allure. As climate change melts Greenland’s ice cover, rare earth minerals, uranium, and iron become more accessible. Trump, a pro-mining advocate, sees the lucrative business opportunity in this development.

However, critics argue the U.S. has failed to clearly define what it hopes to gain from Greenland beyond vague strategic rhetoric. Danish officials warn that the heightened pressure is damaging diplomatic ties. And Greenlanders say the aggression is pushing them further away, not closer.

Diplomatic Lines Are Being Tested

Denmark and the U.S. have long enjoyed a close relationship. But the President’s talk of taking Greenland by force, along with his administration’s decision to send high-ranking officials to the island without formal invitation, has led to sharp rebukes from Danish ministers and the citizens of Greenland themselves.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen called Trump’s recent comments an “escalation” while PM Frederiksen described the visits as “unacceptable pressure.” The symbolic weight of sending officials, especially to politically charged events like dog-sled races, was not lost on observers. In contrast, the Biden and Obama administrations handled Arctic policy through cooperation and diplomacy. Trump, however, is attempting to break that tradition by using shock, forceful messaging, and pressure tactics. Will this work during his term?

Greenland’s Leverage

Despite being sparsely populated, Greenland holds leverage in the debate. The island receives over $500 million annually from Denmark in subsidies, most of it used to maintain its public services. That support would be uncertain under a U.S. annexation.

At the same time, some Greenlandic politicians use the threat of independence to extract more concessions from Copenhagen. But as one expert noted, Trump’s behavior may ironically be helping Denmark’s position by uniting Greenlanders against outside interference.

So Is The U.S. Threat of Taking Greenland a Real Crisis?

In practical terms, the Trump administration’s push has not yet crossed the line into military or economic action. But its diplomatic tone and behavior have sparked real tension. The U.S. seems to be betting that time, pressure, and incentives will eventually wear Greenland down. Right now, public opposition among Greenlanders is fierce as they feel they are being treated as property. The memory of past colonialism remains fresh. At the same time, Denmark is also showing its willingness to defend its sovereignty over the island.

Unless the U.S. offers a dramatic change in tone or policy, Trump’s dream of taking Greenland may remain just that: a dream that creates more division than opportunity.

Do you think President Trump’s push to take over Greenland strengthens or weakens America’s global influence?

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