U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the U.S. occupation of Greenland would benefit its security.
His demands were rejected by the island’s leaders and by NATO member Denmark, of which Greenland is a semi-autonomous region.
Where is Greenland and why is it important to Trump?
Greenland, the world’s largest non-continent island, is located in the Arctic.
It is also the least densely populated area. About 56,000 people live there, most of them indigenous Inuit.
About 80% of the territory is covered in ice, meaning most people live on the southwestern coast around the capital, Nuuk.
Greenland’s economy is primarily based on fishing and receives heavy subsidies from the Danish government.
However, interest in Greenland’s natural resources, including rare earth minerals, uranium and iron mining, has grown in recent years. Global warming could make these facilities more accessible as the massive ice sheets covering the island melt.
Precious mineral resources have been a key focus of Trump elsewhere around the world, including in his dealings with Ukraine.
But the U.S. president said, “We need Greenland for our national security, not its minerals.”
He also said that “Greenland is full of Russian and Chinese ships.”
What did Trump say about US control of Greenland?
President Trump has previously repeatedly called for the United States to occupy Greenland after a U.S. airstrike on the country led to the arrest and deportation of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife to New York.
After Trump’s follow-up comments on Greenland, the island’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen responded that “enough is enough” and described U.S. control as an “illusion.”
But Trump and his associates repeated their threats. The president said he was “very serious” about his plans, adding that Greenland was important not only to the security of the United States but also to Europe.
During his first term as president in 2019, Trump offered to buy the island but was told it was not for sale.
He drew attention again after returning to the White House in January 2025 and did not rule out the use of force.
High-level visits to Greenland have also been controversial. Vice President J.D. Vance visited there in March and gave a speech criticizing Denmark for failing to invest enough to protect its territory.
President Trump’s appointment of Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland in late 2025 sparked a new debate about U.S. intentions. He spoke openly about making the island part of the United States.
What did Denmark and other NATO allies say?
Denmark, a NATO ally that has traditionally enjoyed close ties with the United States, was shocked by Trump’s stance, according to BBC News diplomatic correspondent James Landale.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that any effort to occupy Greenland would mean the end of NATO, the military alliance of Western countries of which both Denmark and the United States are members.
Another NATO leader and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said only Greenland and Denmark could decide the island’s future.
The European Union’s foreign policy spokesman said it would defend the principles of “national sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Why does Denmark rule Greenland?
Greenland is part of the North American continent, but for about 300 years it was ruled by Denmark, located about 3,000 km (1,860 miles) away.
But U.S. security interests in Greenland are also long-standing, and two U.S. administrations before Trump failed in their efforts to acquire them.
The island was ruled as a colony until the mid-20th century. During this period it remained isolated and poor.
After Nazi Germany occupied mainland Denmark during World War II, the United States invaded Denmark and established an army and a radio station.
After the war ended, American troops remained in Greenland. Pitupik Spaceport, formerly known as Thule Air Force Base, has been operated by the United States ever since.
The 1951 defense agreement with Denmark gave the United States a major role in the defense of the territory, including the right to build and maintain military bases.
In 1953, the island became part of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenlanders became Danish citizens.
A referendum on autonomy in 1979 gave Greenland control over most policies within the territory, while Denmark retained control over foreign affairs and defence.
There are Danish and American military bases in Greenland.
What do Greenlanders think?
In response to Trump’s threats in early 2026, Greenland’s Prime Minister Nielsen said: “There is no more pressure, no more hints, no more illusions about annexation.”
“We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussion. But it must be done through the appropriate channels and respecting international law.”
When BBC correspondent Fergal Keane visited the island in 2025, he was repeatedly told: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. So Trump can visit, but that’s it.”
The issue took center stage at the Territory general election that year.
Opinion polls show that most Greenlanders support independence from Denmark, but an overwhelming majority reject becoming part of the United States.
When President Trump first raised the idea of purchasing Greenland in 2019, many locals said they opposed the proposal.
“This is a very dangerous idea,” said travel agent Dains Mikaelson.
“He’s treating us like objects that can be bought,” said Aleka Hammond, Greenland’s first female prime minister.
