Of course, the interest of the United States in buying Greenland is not new — it has history and strategic interests that have not changed. The proposition of American ownership over Greenland has circulated in political and strategic contexts most notably in the 20th and 21st centuries.
There are four common ground arguments for such interest that can be organized into geopolitical, economical, militarily, and environmental categories. All these elements contribute to the united front of why Greenland the worlds largest island is so important for the battle of the united States.
Geopolitical Significance
Geopolitically, one of the strongest arguments for U.S. interest in Greenland is its position in the North Atlantic. Greenland lies in the Arctic, which in recent years has become a hotspot of global strategic rivalry. As climate change speeds up melting of Arctic ice, recently discoverable shipping routes like the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage are becoming more accessible than ever.
Such routes could cut travel times between Asia, Europe, and North America and lessen reliance on traditional chokepoints like the Suez and Panama Canals avoiding container shipping crisis. Establishing authority over Greenland therefore would confer a critical advantage to the U.S. in the ability to monitor and protect those emerging routes, safeguarding American interests in a region increasingly contested by other powers.
Also, Greenland’s location between North America and Europe means it is a strategic outpost for the U.S. in the North Atlantic. During the Cold War, Greenland was critical in the U.S. defense plan as a location for early warning systems and radar sites to detect a possible Soviet missile launch.
Today, at a time of rising tensions with both Russia and China, Greenland’s strategic position is just as significant. The U.S. could use the island as a base to monitor and counter military activity by these rival powers, especially in the Arctic, which Russia has been militarizing.
Economic Potential
Another major reason why the U.S. cares is Greenland’s abundant natural resources. The island is thought to contain large deposits of rare earth elements that are crucial for the production of high-tech devices, renewable energy technologies and military equipment. At present, rare earth minerals used in manufacturing globally are dominated by China, which accounts for about 80 percent of world production.
Obtaining Greenland would lessen U.S. reliance on China for these critical commodities, boosting its economic and national security.
Apart from rare earth elements, Greenland is believed to possess significant reserves of oil, natural gas and minerals including iron ore, zinc and uranium. With their harsh climate and remote location, these resources have so far not fully been tapped, but technological advancement and melting Arctic ice could open up extraction in the coming years. Seizing control of Greenland would give the U.S. partial access to such valuable resources and could help bolster its energy independence and economic competitiveness.
Military & Defense Planning Other Considerations
Greenland presents a unique military advantage for the U.S. The island’s expansive, sparsely populated landscape makes it well suited for military bases, training areas and research facilities. The United States already operates at Thule Air Base in northern Green land, its northernmost military outpost, which is vital for space surveillance and missile defense. It would give the U.S. islands on which to base an improved Arctic defense — something needed given the growing Russian and Chinese naval presence in the area.
Also, its closeness to the North Pole gives further benefits for space activity in Green land. Another, why the island’s high latitude is ideal for satellite launches and space tracking, more important than ever for national security, communications and science. The US acquisition of Grønland would fortify the US position in the burgeoning space economy and guarantee its moat in this strategic domain.
Interest In Science And Environment
Greenland’s unusual environment also positions it as a useful prospect for scientific exploration, especially as related to climate change. The island’s ice sheet — covering roughly 80% of its landmass — is the world’s second largest and contains an estimated 8% of the Earth’s freshwater.
Research on Greenland’s ice sheet reveals much about global climate systems, rising sea levels and the effects of climate change. Hence, it is in the interests of the U.S. to get a reading on these processes, as they will have second-order consequences on national security, economic stability, environmental policy, etc.
Doing so would allow the U.S. to create a permanent outpost for long-range climate monitoring and research. It would not only contribute to scientific understanding and knowledge but would also increase the U.S. capacity to influence the direction of international climate policy, and to galvanize global action to address environmental challenges.
Historical Background and Diplomatic Obstacles
The notion of the United States acquiring Greenland goes back to the 19th century, when Secretary of State William H. Seward, who negotiated the purchase of Alaska, expressed interest in the island. During World War II, the United States briefly occupied Greenland so that it wouldn’t fall into the hands of the Nazis, and payments were discussed after the war about whether the Americans could buy the island from Denmark.
In 1946, the U.S. proposed buying Green land for $100 million — a proposal Denmark turned down. And more recently, in 2019, former President Donald Trump informally floated the purchase of Green land, leading to a diplomatic flap and underscoring the continued American interest in the island.
But buying Greenland isn’t that simple. It is an autonomous territory under the Kingdom of Denmark, and Danes have a strong national identity and independence. The Danish government and the Greenlandic people would both have to agree to any U.S. purchase or annexation and are unlikely to go along. Greenland’s government has made clear on many occasions that the island is not for sale, and that its future is in greater autonomy or eventual independence.
Conclusion
The United States is interested in Greenland for geopolitical, economic, military and environmental reasons. When you consider the island’s location in the Arctic, its vast natural resources and its potential for scientific research, it’s easy to see why it has become such a hot commodity in a competitive global environment. But the difficulties of buying Greenland — diplomatic and otherwise, as well as the wishes of the people who live there — ensure that ownership by the U.S. appears far off, if not impossible.
A post-colonial shift in thinking suggests that the U.S. may instead seek to deepen its partnership with Greenland and Denmark to access Green land’s natural resources and strategic assets (such as military and early warning radar systems) without infringing on the former’s sovereignty. With the Arctic growing ever more important in global affairs, Greenland will continue to be a point of interest for the U.S. and other states fighting for influence over this essential region.
