[Global Focus] U.S. President's Obsession with Greenland... 85% of Residents Oppose

Appears to Have Set Sights on a "Second Alaska"
Abundant Rare Earth Elements and Geopolitical Value
Experts Express Concern Over the "Logic of Great Powers"

In 1867, the United States paid Russia $7.2 million to purchase Alaska, an area of 170,000 square kilometers. At the time, the deal was criticized as buying useless land, but Alaska was later re-evaluated as a "treasure trove of resources" with abundant natural resources, including vast reserves of oil. Now, it appears that President Donald Trump has set his sights on Danish-controlled Greenland as a "second Alaska." Experts have expressed concerns about the "logic of great powers," where the United States tramples on the territorial sovereignty of other countries to suit its own needs.

Trump's Greenland Purchase Plan Dates Back Seven Years

President Trump's interest in having the United States purchase Greenland began in the spring of 2019, during his first term. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), at a dinner with White House aides, Trump suggested considering the purchase of Greenland after hearing that Denmark was experiencing financial difficulties due to its support for Greenland. Over 85% of Greenland's territory is covered by ice, and apart from fishing, the region has few sources of income and receives massive annual subsidies from Denmark. The annual subsidy currently amounts to $610 million.

When President Trump first shared his idea, his aides were taken aback, and some took it as a joke. However, Trump reportedly continued to bring up the issue afterward. The Washington Post (WP) reported that it remains unknown what conclusion was ultimately reached.

After a period of relative quiet, Trump's return to the White House brought Greenland back into the spotlight. On January 5 of last year, which officially marked the beginning of Trump's second term following Senate and House ratification, Trump declared in his inaugural address that the United States should own Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal, advocating for territorial incorporation. The world was thrown into confusion.

It appears that the option of "U.S. troop deployment," which had raised concerns among Greenland, Denmark, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies, is no longer being considered. However, allied countries are not letting their guard down, as they have been rapidly increasing their troop presence in Greenland. In addition, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and the Netherlands have also contributed by sending smaller contingents of troops.

The likelihood of the United States purchasing Greenland with money also seems slim. According to Reuters, White House aides recently discussed a plan to pay each Greenland resident between $10,000 and $100,000 (approximately 14.5 million to 145.4 million won). Even at the lowest estimate, this would amount to more than half of the U.S. defense budget for 2026 (about $900 billion). This is a significant gap compared to expert estimates reported by NBC News, which range from $500 billion to $700 billion (735 trillion to 1,027 trillion won).

Meanwhile, the White House meeting on the 14th, which attracted global attention, ended without major results other than forming a working group to discuss security concerns. Denmark stated that the transfer of sovereignty was a "red line" and highlighted the significant differences in position. After the talks, President Trump argued that the United States must take control of Greenland, citing threats from Russia and China. However, on the 15th, the Russian Foreign Ministry immediately countered, stating, "Neither Russia nor China has ever announced such plans."

Instead, it seems likely that other diplomatic and security measures, such as tariffs, will be used. On the 16th, President Trump stated, "We may impose tariffs on countries that do not cooperate on the Greenland issue because we need national security." He has consistently expressed a strong desire to incorporate Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory, and this statement is interpreted as a warning that tariffs could be imposed on countries that oppose this policy direction.

Estimated Rare Earth Reserves: 36.1 Million Tons

The value of Greenland can be divided into two major aspects: economic and geopolitical. These are: ▲ its value as a treasure trove of resources, holding various strategic minerals such as rare earth elements-which have become a focal point in the U.S.-China power struggle-nickel, and uranium; and ▲ its geopolitical value as a key variable amid the opening of Arctic sea routes and changes in the global logistics network.

Among Greenland's resources, rare earth elements are particularly noteworthy. Rare earths are essential raw materials in advanced technology sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, and the defense industry. As of 2023, the Greenland government estimated that the country possesses about 36.1 million tons of rare earth elements. It is also believed that large-scale rare earth deposits exist in some unexplored southern regions.

Additionally, Greenland is located midway along the shortest Arctic route connecting Washington, D.C., and Moscow, Russia. It is a key strategic point and stronghold. For the United States, securing Greenland would allow it to keep Russia in check and block China's advance into the Arctic.

Even before President Trump, the United States recognized Greenland's value. The United States, which has a military defense treaty with Denmark, has operated an air base in Greenland since 1951. In 1964, former President Harry Truman expressed to Denmark his willingness to pay $100 million in gold to purchase Greenland, but the Danish government rejected the offer.

The United States has continued to strengthen its influence in Greenland in recent years. In 2020, for the first time in about 70 years, the U.S. reopened its consulate in Nuuk, Greenland's capital. In 2021, the United States cooperated with Greenland's Ministry of Mineral Resources to support mineral exploration and improve regulatory systems. During the Biden administration in 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a $3.95 billion investment to modernize the Pituffik Space Base.

"An Era Where the Logic of Great Powers Prevails"

A merchant in Nuuk, Greenland, is holding a T-shirt with the phrase "Greenland is not for sale" on the 14th (local time). In a public opinion poll conducted in January last year, 85% of Greenland residents expressed opposition to joining the United States. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Both the Greenland government and its residents remain firmly opposed to becoming a U.S. territory, just as they did in 2019. On January 13, Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen stated at a press conference, "We would rather remain with Denmark than become part of the United States." In a public opinion poll conducted in January last year, 85% of Greenland residents said they opposed joining the United States.

European countries are also alarmed by the sight of the United States exerting pressure on Denmark, a NATO ally. France, led by President Emmanuel Macron, plans to open a consulate in Greenland on February 6, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrault. He explained that the opening of the consulate is a "political signal to expand influence in Greenland."

Experts have paid close attention to the statement released by the White House after the emergency arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The White House claimed that it "needs" Greenland and designated securing Greenland as a "national security priority." This is a unilateral assertion by the Trump administration, which prioritizes "America First."

Yale University professors Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro recently wrote in Foreign Affairs that "the United States is blatantly threatening sovereign countries and territories-including Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Greenland, and Mexico-through illegal and unilateral force and coercion, rather than through the legitimate means of United Nations Security Council approval."

This logic of great powers was long foreseen. French Foreign Minister Barrault said on French radio early last year that although he did not expect the United States to invade Greenland, "we have entered an era where the law of the strong prevails." The New York Times (NYT) analyzed that "Trump-style America First is, unlike traditional isolationism, expansionist and colonial in nature, coveting other countries' territories based on military power."