Why is Trump targeting Greenland?

Greenland is a sparsely populated, ice-covered island with a slowing economy. Yet, the United States continues to pursue it.

Donald Trump's ambition to dominate the region has been expressed since 2019. This desire was reiterated in 2025 shortly after he resumed the presidency of the United States. Trump's ambition has become increasingly uncontainable following the U.S. military attack on Venezuela under the pretext of combating drug trafficking networks.

Regarding Greenland, the main reason Trump has been eyeing the territory has actually been hinted at multiple times. He is concerned about the strengthening presence of China and Russia in the Arctic region.

"It is very strategic. Currently, Greenland is filled with Russian and Chinese ships everywhere. We need Greenland from a national security perspective. And Denmark will not be able to do it," said U.S. President Donald Trump to reporters aboard Air Force One, Sunday (4/1/2026), as quoted from the official transcript of the Democratic Party press gaggle at the White House.

Despite being opposed by the United States' allied countries themselves, on Tuesday (6/1/2026), Trump remained steadfast. He insisted on targeting Greenland. The island, which has a population of around 56,000, is viewed as a strategic buffer to counter the pressures from China and Russia in the Arctic region.

Greenland is considered important for the defense and economic value of the United States. The island is rich in rare earth minerals, located near key Arctic shipping routes, and has a strategic position for defense.

These three factors place Greenland at the heart of the Arctic, which has become a stage for current global power competition. China and Russia have expanded their reach into the Arctic in recent years.

The Arctic is increasingly becoming a point of contention due to melting ice as a result of global warming. This condition opens up new shipping routes and access to natural resources in the region. Before the melting, access to the Arctic was nearly impossible for economic exploitation.

Greenland, the semi-autonomous island under Denmark, has become the most important entry point for the strategic and military presence of the United States in the Arctic. The United States has established its foothold in Greenland through the presence of the Pituffik Space Base.

The location of Greenland has made it a defense point for the United States since World War II. At that time, the United States occupied Greenland to prevent it from falling into the hands of Nazi Germany while also protecting vital shipping routes in the North Atlantic.

In the current security landscape of the North Atlantic, Greenland is associated with the GIUK Gap (Greenland–Iceland–United Kingdom). The GIUK Gap is a strategic maritime corridor in the North Atlantic.

Greenland's position to the west, Iceland in the center, and England to the east form a natural gateway used by NATO as a monitoring zone to track the movements of Russian warships and submarines from the Arctic to the Atlantic.

Trump's claim that Denmark is unable to protect Greenland is contradicted by concrete actions from Copenhagen. In recent years, the Danish government has increased its military presence in Greenland and the North Atlantic.

Very strategic. Currently, Greenland is filled with Russian and Chinese ships everywhere. We need Greenland from a national security perspective. And Denmark will not be able to do it.

One of them is through a defense enhancement package worth approximately 14.6 billion kroner (around Rp 34 trillion) in 2025. The package includes three new Arctic patrol vessels, two long-range surveillance drones, and an increase in satellite capacity for monitoring the region.

Denmark also operates a joint command center, the Joint Arctic Command, headquartered in Nuuk, Greenland's capital. This command center is mandated with the oversight, enforcement of sovereignty, and defense of Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Denmark also deploys the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite unit that conducts long-range patrols in the Arctic region.

The defense value of Greenland for the United States primarily relies on the U.S. space base, Pituffik Space Base. Located in the northwest of Greenland, the base was established under the Denmark-U.S. defense agreement in 1951. Pituffik supports three key functions: early warning of missile attacks, missile defense support, and space surveillance.

This function directly links Greenland to the US defense architecture and NATO security needs. At sea, this region is located near the GIUK Gap, which, as explained, is used to monitor the movements of Russian warships and submarines from the Arctic to the Atlantic. On land and in space, Pituffik enhances strategic detection and monitoring capabilities from the north.

From another perspective, Russia views NATO's activities in the Arctic region as a threat. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated that Moscow would respond by strengthening its military capabilities in the polar region. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European concerns regarding risks in the northern region have also increased.

In line with this, China has also asserted its ambitions by referring to itself as a near-Arctic state. Since 2018, China has been promoting the idea of building a silk road in the polar region, known as the "Polar Silk Road." This concept is part of the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The "Polar Silk Road" is often referred to as the "Ice Silk Road."

China's Arctic Policy document released in 2018 mentions the development of Arctic shipping routes as part of that strategy.

On October 14, 2025, China celebrated the successful maiden voyage that penetrated the Arctic shipping route. The container ship Istanbul Bridge arrived in Felixstowe, England, via the Arctic route. This achievement is said to mark the inaugural voyage of the China-Europe Arctic express container route.

This achievement also demonstrates the commercial viability of the northeastern shipping route. According to the Chinese media outlet Global Times, the route cuts sailing time to around 20 days, compared to the traditional 40–50 days.

Chinese government media showcase this Arctic route as an economic and logistical project. The China-Europe Arctic route is considered not only to shorten delivery times but also claimed to reduce carbon emissions due to the shorter distance.

This route is also referred to as China's contribution to maintaining the stability of global supply chains amid international trade uncertainties. "This is not just an alternative route, but demonstrates China's commitment to cooperation and development in Arctic affairs," said Jian Junbo, Director of the China-Europe Relations Center at the Fudan University Institute of International Studies, while discussing the Arctic shipping route between China and Europe and the concept of the Ice Silk Road.

On the other hand, the United States has long been concerned about the possibility of the Arctic becoming an increasingly militarized arena of competition. "Do we want the Arctic Ocean to become a new South China Sea, fraught with militarization and competing territorial claims?" said then U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in May 2019.

In addition to defense and economic aspects, Greenland is also targeted for its rare earth mineral wealth. Beneath the melting ice layer, the land of Greenland contains essential components for mobile phones, computers, batteries, and other high-tech devices.

The melting of ice increases the potential for mining. The resource assessment in 2023 indicates that Greenland has the potential to hold reserves of up to 31 types of approximately 50 rare earth minerals. Among these are lithium and graphite for electric vehicle batteries, as well as neodymium for electric motor magnets.

Currently, China dominates the supply chain of these minerals. China produces approximately 65 percent of graphite and around 70 percent of the world's rare earth minerals. Meanwhile, lithium production is dominated by Australia, Chile, and China.

In terms of processing, China refines 40–90 percent of the global supply of key elements. Meanwhile, the United States must import 50–100 percent of 41 out of 50 critical minerals according to USGS.

With various data and records about Greenland, coupled with the achievements of the United States' rivals, Trump is certainly uneasy. However, regarding Trump's ambitions for Greenland and its potential, the United States' allies themselves, Denmark and the Government of Greenland, have firmly rejected it.

They stressed that the Arctic island is "not for sale." In a joint statement, several European leaders expressed support for Greenland's sovereignty.

The joint statement was delivered on Tuesday (6/1/2026) by seven European leaders. They are UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The same statement was also signed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The statement asserts that Greenland belongs to its people. Only Denmark and Greenland, and they alone, have the right to decide matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.

However, Trump seems inclined to ignore the call. After failing to make a purchase, the White House stated that Trump is discussing various options, including the use of military force, to take control of Greenland. (AFP/AP/Reuters).