Greenland’s Importance to Trump: 5 Key Graphics
- An autonomous territory of Denmark thousands of kilometers from the US is currently center stage in a geopolitical tussle.
- US President Donald Trump says it's "unacceptable" that Greenland shoudl not come under US control adn has threatened tariffs on any countries who don't fall in line with his...
- While the territory is geographically in North America, its relationship with Denmark means it is culturally and politically European.
An autonomous territory of Denmark thousands of kilometers from the US is currently center stage in a geopolitical tussle.
US President Donald Trump says it’s ”unacceptable” that Greenland shoudl not come under US control adn has threatened tariffs on any countries who don’t fall in line with his plans.
While the territory is geographically in North America, its relationship with Denmark means it is culturally and politically European.
Meanwhile, citizens and the governments of Denmark and Greenland are doing their best to resist Trump’s overtures while Europe, China and russia assess the importance of the vast, icy island to their interests.
So why is Greenland so crucial?
what is the strategic importance of Greenland?
Table of Contents
While the latest threats of buying or invading Greenland are particular to Donald Trump’s administration, the Danish territory has been key to US interests for much longer than that.
Then US Secretary of State William Seward raised the idea of annexing Greenland as far back as 1867 and the US occupied Greenland to ensure it didn’t fall into the hands of Nazi Germany during World War II.The US currently operates the remote Pituffik Space Base, an air force base, in northwestern Greenland, which was built after the US and Denmark signed the Defense of Greenland Treaty in 1951.
The island’s position off the northeastern coast of Canada means many north american leaders have deemed it crucial to defense strategy. Russia, another country which lies partly in the Arctic circle — the others are canada, Norway, the US, and Denmark (through Greenland and the faroe Islands) — has several bases in the Arctic and China declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in 2018 in an effort to obtain a toehold in the region.
How big is Greenland?
It’s huge. Though the US, Russia, Canada and China are significantly larger, few other nations are, with Greenland about six times larger than Germany (roughly 2.17 million sq km vs. 357,000 sq km).
Actually, Greenland is more than half the size of the entire European Union and is the largest island in the world, with Australia, which would or else take that crown, considered a continent.
how populated is Greenland?
With just 56,000 inhabitants, Greenland is easily the most sparsely populated territory on earth, with about 0.14 people per sq km.
The reason for this is its geography, with 80% of the country covered by an ice sheet formed approximately 3 million years ago rendering large swathes uninhabitable.
Over 65% of the population live in greenland’s five biggest settlements; Nuuk (the capital, 19,905 people), Sisimiut (5,485), Ilulissat (5,087), Qaqortoq (3,069) and Aasiaat (2,992).
An aging population means the number of Greenlanders is expected to drop below 50,000 by 2050, according to government data.
How is greenland’s climate changing?
Rapidly, as in the rest of the Arctic Circle. Climate change is causing temperatures to rise to such a point that the Ittoqqortoormiit weather station recorded temperatures of 14.3 degrees Celsius on May 19 last year,more than 13 degrees Celsius above the May average daily maximum temperature of 0.8 degrees Celsius.
As a result, the 2025 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) found that the island’s ice sheet had shrunk for the 29th year in a row. ”On average, the Greenland Ice Sheet has lost approximately 140 billion tonnes of ice per year when we look at the entire data period [from 1985],” said Signe Hillerup Larsen from GEUS.
While the last few years have seen a slower loss than in the 2010s, 2025 data from US agency NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) showed this ice melt is causing global sea level to rise by 0.03 inches (0.8 millimeters) per year.
Greenland is gaining increased geopolitical attention due to climate change-induced Arctic ice melt and its substantial,though challenging to extract,mineral resources,especially rare earth elements (REEs). This is driving interest from the United States, China, Russia, and the European Union, all seeking to diversify supply chains and secure access to critical materials.
What Natural Resources Does Greenland Have?
Greenland possesses a diverse range of mineral resources, including both common and critical raw materials, estimated to be worth trillions of dollars. Geological Survey of denmark and Greenland (GEUS) identifies meaningful deposits of iron ore, zinc, lead, graphite, tungsten, uranium, tantalum, niobium, diamonds, and gold. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has also highlighted the potential for significant deposits of critical minerals.
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in Greenland
Rare earth elements are Greenland’s most strategically critically important resources. The European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act (2023) lists REEs as essential for the green and digital transitions,and greenland holds an estimated 6% of the world’s known REE resources. Specifically, the Kvanefjeld deposit in southern Greenland is estimated to contain substantial reserves of REEs, including neodymium and dysprosium, vital for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and defense technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023 Critical Materials Report emphasizes the need to diversify REE supply chains.
Iron Ore and Other Minerals
While REEs receive significant attention, Greenland also has substantial iron ore deposits, notably at Isua. London Stock Exchange announcements from companies exploring the Isua site detail the scale of these deposits. Other minerals,such as zinc and lead,are also present in commercially viable quantities,though their advancement is hampered by logistical challenges.
Geopolitical Competition for Greenland’s Resources
The increasing accessibility of Greenland’s resources, coupled with global supply chain vulnerabilities, has intensified geopolitical competition.
China’s Dominance in REE Processing
Currently, China dominates the REE processing market, controlling over 90% of global refining capacity. The International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights this concentration as a significant risk to energy security and the transition to clean energy. This dependence motivates the US and EU to seek choice sources and processing capabilities.
US and EU Strategies
The United States has expressed increasing interest in Greenland, offering economic assistance and exploring potential partnerships to develop its mineral resources. Statements from the U.S. Department of State indicate a focus on strengthening ties with Greenland and promoting responsible resource development. The EU is also actively pursuing collaborations with Greenland to secure access to critical raw materials, as outlined in the european Commission’s recent press releases regarding the Critical Raw Materials Act.
Russia’s Arctic Interests
Russia also maintains a significant presence in the Arctic and has expressed interest in the region’s resources and potential shipping routes. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace provides analysis of russia’s Arctic strategy, which includes resource extraction and control of Arctic shipping lanes.
Disclaimer: This information is based on publicly available data as of January 18, 2026, 12: