Why Greenland belongs to Denmark and why Trump wants it

COPENHAGEN – US President Donald Trump has once again said he wants to take control of Greenland for national security reasons. He also questioned whether Denmark has any legal right over the Arctic island. His comments have renewed debate about Greenland’s history, its political status, and the role of the United States in the region.

How Denmark Got Greenland

Greenland was first inhabited by Inuit peoples thousands of years ago. Around 985 AD, Vikings led by Erik the Red settled in southern Greenland. Over time, the Inuit became the main population, and the Viking settlements disappeared by around 1400.

Denmark began colonising Greenland in the 18th century when missionary Hans Egede arrived in 1721. This marked the start of Danish colonial rule. A statue of Egede still stands in Nuuk and is seen by many Greenlanders as a symbol of lost Inuit culture.

In 1916, when the United States bought the Danish West Indies, it also recognised Denmark’s control over all of Greenland as part of the agreement.

Greenland’s Current Status

In 1953, Greenland became a formal territory under Denmark’s constitution without consulting its people. Any sale of Greenland would require a constitutional amendment.

Since 2009, Greenland has had the right to declare independence through a referendum, followed by approval from the Danish parliament. Greenland manages most of its own affairs, but Denmark still controls foreign policy and defence unless otherwise agreed.

Greenland has around 57,000 people and very limited infrastructure, with no roads connecting its towns.

Denmark–Greenland Relations

Relations between Denmark and Greenland have been damaged by past actions. In the 1950s, Inuit communities were forced to relocate. Denmark also apologised in 2022 for sending Greenlandic children to Denmark during the same period.

Between 1966 and 1991, many women and girls were fitted with birth control devices without consent. Denmark apologised in 2025 for this campaign. A 2025 documentary also accused Denmark and companies of profiting from Greenland’s cryolite mine without helping local communities.

Greenland and the European Union

Greenland joined the European Community in 1973 through Denmark but left in 1985 after gaining home rule. It now has a special Overseas Country and Territory status with the EU, mainly linked to fisheries.

U.S. Military Presence

The United States has a permanent military base at Pituffik in northwest Greenland under a 1951 agreement. This allows the U.S. to build bases with notice to Danish and Greenlandic authorities. Denmark has accepted this arrangement due to its limited defence capabilities and NATO commitments.

Why Trump Wants Greenland

Trump has said Greenland is vital for national security. The shortest route between Europe and North America passes through Greenland, making it important for missile warning systems. Nuuk is also closer to New York than Copenhagen.

Greenland is strategically important as Arctic tensions grow involving NATO, Russia, and China. The island also has valuable minerals, oil, and gas, though development remains slow.

What Greenlanders Want

Most Greenlanders support independence in principle but worry about economic dependence on Denmark and growing U.S. influence. Fishing makes up over 90% of exports, while Danish funding pays for about half of public spending.

Independence could allow Greenland to form a Compact of Free Association with the United States, similar to agreements with Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

What Denmark and Greenland Say

When Trump first suggested buying Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea “absurd”. In December 2025, Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen again said Greenland could not be annexed and that security concerns did not justify such a move.

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