President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that oil, gas, and mineral exploration is nearly underway in Greenland, the Danish territory in the North Atlantic. The announcement coincides with last month’s security agreement, which will expand the American military presence in the territory.
"Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland!" Trump posted on Truth Social. "There are Experts that are saying that the amount of easily available Oil is far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the World and, even more importantly, from a Security Purpose in the Defense and Offense of both the United States of America, and Europe, is second to none.”
"Any future attack on the United States will have to come across Greenland, where our Defense will routinely knock down drones, missiles, or any other form of weapon not yet even conceived," Trump said.
The president added that Greenland "gives us time, location, and sightline, like nowhere else in the World!" He did not specify when the exploration would begin.
Greenland is believed to hold significant untapped oil, gas, and mineral resources. However, in 2021, the Greenlandic government halted the issuance of new oil and gas exploration licenses, citing environmental and climate concerns.
The announcement comes as the US reached a security agreement last month with Denmark and Greenland to strengthen its strategic position in the Arctic. The arrangement would allow the US to establish additional military installations, while restrictions apply to non-NATO countries.
“At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America,” Trump said in September. “Additionally, from now on, no US adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval.”
President Trump had repeatedly stated an interest in the US acquiring Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The president has argued that control of the island is important to national security.
