USAupdated 1h ago2 min read
Donald Trump Says United States Will Begin Massive Oil, Gas, Minerals Exploration in Greenland
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Trump says massive oil, gas and mineral exploration will begin in Greenland. Greenland is a self-governing Danish territory and a security agreement allows U.S. presence.
Trump targets Greenland resources
U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States is preparing to begin “massive” exploration of oil, gas, and minerals in Greenland, describing the island as “new and beautiful” in a Truth Social post.
Trump added that “the amount of easily available Oil is far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the World,” while he did not provide details about possible American participation.
The announcement came after the United States signed a security agreement with the leaders of Greenland and Denmark, an accord that expands the U.S. military role on the island and supports Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defence system.
Trump also framed Greenland as a defensive advantage, saying “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.”
Bases, sovereignty, and access
The September security agreement, as described by ABC, would allow the United States to build two military bases in the south and east of Greenland at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, in addition to the Pituffik base already operating in the north. The agreement paves the way for two new military bases and Trump’s planned “Golden Dome” missile defence system, while reaffirming Danish sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
The deal was aimed at ending an almost two-year-long crisis over Trump’s refusal to rule out the U.S. seizing Greenland by force. Both Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed the agreement, with Frederiksen describing it as strengthening “our common security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic region.”
What the exploration means
Greenland’s government stopped issuing new oil and gas exploration licenses in 2021, citing environmental and climate concerns, while some previously issued licenses remain valid but require additional approvals. Commercially recoverable reserves have not been established, even as Trump’s announcement touted untapped oil and gas resources.
Bozeman Daily Chronicle said it was not immediately clear what exploration or developments Trump was referring to in his post, and it noted that Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark rather than part of the United States. The agreement allows the United States “free access to Greenland’s defense zones and to move between them,” including territorial waters, by land, sea, and air, linking the security framework to the island’s strategic positioning.