Greenland is back in the news because President Trump sees it as a major priority for national security. He recently mentioned that the United States would turn its full attention toward the island very soon. He is worried about Russian and Chinese ships moving through those waters. Trump believes the U.S. needs to control the area to stay safe. He even suggested putting taxes on countries that try to stop him from taking over the island. This has caused a lot of tension with leaders in Denmark. They say such a move could actually destroy the NATO alliance.
The island belongs to Denmark right now and they handle its defense. It is a massive place but very few people live there. Most of the residents are Inuit and live in small towns near the coast. Almost the entire island is covered in thick ice. There are no roads connecting the different towns. People have to use boats or planes to get around. Sometimes they even use dogsleds or snowmobiles. The local economy depends mostly on fishing and money sent from the Danish government.
The real value of Greenland is where it sits on the map. During the Cold War it was a key spot to watch for threats from the Soviet Union. Today the U.S. runs a major space base there. This base has powerful radar to watch for incoming missiles. It is the closest military spot to the North Pole. Experts say the island acts like a gatekeeper for the Atlantic Ocean. If the U.S. controls it they can track Russian submarines more easily. Military leaders worry that Russia is building up its own forces in the Arctic very quickly.
Some people talk about Greenland having lots of oil and rare minerals. It does have materials used for phones and electric cars. However experts say getting these things out of the ground is too hard right now. Most of the minerals are trapped under the ice or in protected areas. It takes a long time and a lot of money to build mines there. Previous attempts to find oil ended in disappointment. Most of the land is just too frozen and remote to make a profit anytime soon.
In the end this is about power and strategy rather than money. The U.S. wants to make sure no other country can use the island against them. It is the perfect spot for watching the skies and the sea. Owning or controlling Greenland helps the U.S. protect the entire Western Hemisphere. While the minerals might be important one day the main goal right now is defense. Trump seems focused on making sure the U.S. has the ultimate say in what happens in the Arctic.
