US President Donald Trump has once again floated the idea of taking control of Greenland, framing it as a national security issue and openly questioning Denmark’s sovereignty over the Arctic island. The remarks have revived debate over Greenland’s colonial history, its present self-rule arrangement, and Washington’s expanding military footprint in the Arctic.
Trump has described Greenland as “vital” to US security, arguing that its geographic position makes it central to American defence planning in the High North — a claim that Danish officials and Greenlandic leaders have repeatedly rejected.
Greenland, with a population of around 57,000, is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While it exercises broad control over domestic governance, defence and foreign policy remain under Copenhagen’s authority unless otherwise agreed.
Denmark’s claim to Greenland dates back to 1721, when missionary Hans Egede arrived on the island, marking the start of Danish colonial rule. A statue of Egede still stands in Nuuk, a symbol that many Greenlanders associate with the erosion of Inuit culture and traditions. Inuit communities had inhabited Greenland for centuries before Danish colonisation, following the decline of earlier Norse settlements around the 15th century.
The United States formally recognised Danish sovereignty over Greenland in 1916 under a treaty linked to Washington’s purchase of the Danish West Indies, now the US Virgin Islands. Any transfer of Greenland today would require a constitutional amendment in Denmark, a prospect Danish leaders have dismissed outright.
Under a 2009 law, Greenland has the right to pursue independence through a referendum, followed by approval from the Danish parliament. Despite extensive autonomy, the island continues to face structural challenges, including limited infrastructure and vast distances between its 17 towns, none of which are connected by roads.
Ties between Greenland and Denmark have been shaped by a troubled history. Danish authorities have apologised for forcibly relocating Inuit communities in the 1950s and for sending Greenlandic children to Denmark as part of social experiments. In 2025, Copenhagen also issued a formal apology for a decades-long birth control programme carried out without consent. “These actions caused deep harm and lasting trauma,” the Danish government said.
The United States maintains a permanent military presence at Pituffik air base under a 1951 defence agreement. Denmark has acknowledged that it lacks the capacity to defend Greenland independently and relies on US security guarantees — a reality Trump has cited while pressing his case. Critics note, however, that the agreement does not grant Washington ownership or control over the territory.
Greenland’s importance has increased amid growing Arctic competition involving NATO, Russia and China. The island’s untapped reserves of minerals, oil and gas have also drawn international attention, though commercial extraction remains limited and politically sensitive.
What Do Greenlanders Want?
Opinion polls suggest that a majority of Greenlanders support independence in principle. However, many caution against moving too quickly, citing the island’s economic dependence on Denmark and the risk of becoming overly exposed to the United States if independence is pursued without sufficient safeguards.
Fishing accounts for more than 90 per cent of Greenland’s exports, while Danish subsidies finance roughly half of the public budget, supporting healthcare, education and basic infrastructure across the vast and sparsely populated territory.
Some analysts argue that independence could open the door to a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the United States, similar to arrangements Washington has with Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. Such agreements typically involve US military protection and access in exchange for economic assistance and services.
What Do Denmark and Greenland Say?
When Trump first proposed buying Greenland during his earlier presidential term, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed the idea as “absurd”. That position has not changed.
In December 2025, Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen jointly reiterated that Greenland could not be annexed and that international security considerations did not justify any transfer of sovereignty.