US President Donald Trump has once again brought up the idea of control over Greenland, justifying it as a national security issue.
According to Modern.az, Washington believes that amid increasing geopolitical competition in the Arctic region, Greenland holds strategic importance for the US, and control over this island is crucial for preventing Russia and China from strengthening their positions in the region.
Greenland has historically been linked to Denmark. Inuit peoples have inhabited the island for millennia, and in the 10th century, Vikings settled there under the leadership of Erik the Red. With the arrival of Danish missionary Hans Egede in the 18th century, Greenland's colonial period began. In the 1916 agreement regarding the US purchase of the Danish West Indies, Washington officially recognized Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland.
Currently, Greenland holds the status of an autonomous territory within Denmark. Since 2009, the island can declare independence by holding a referendum within its self-governance mechanism, but this process requires the approval of the Danish parliament. Foreign policy and defense matters largely remain under Copenhagen's authority. In Greenland, with a population of approximately 57,000, infrastructure is limited, and there are no roads connecting cities.
Relations between Denmark and Greenland have become strained in recent years amidst revelations concerning historical injustices. Facts such as the forced relocation of Inuits, the removal of children to Denmark, and thousands of women undergoing medical interventions without their consent in the mid-20th century have led to official apologies. Furthermore, claims that revenues from the cryolite mine, exploited for many years in Greenland, have not benefited the local population are also being discussed.
The US already has a military presence in Greenland. Based on the 1951 agreement, the US military operates permanently at Pituffik Air Base, located in the northwest of the island. As Denmark is unable to ensure Greenland's defense independently, it accepts the US role in the region as a security guarantee within the framework of NATO.
Washington considers Greenland a critical position for ballistic missile early warning systems, located on the shortest route between Europe and North America. The increasing activity of NATO, Russia, and China in the Arctic strengthens the US intention to expand its radar and military infrastructure in the region. Additionally, although Greenland possesses rich mineral, oil, and gas reserves, the exploitation of these resources remains limited for now.
Although the idea of independence has gained widespread support in Greenlandic society, economic dependence remains a primary concern. Over 90 percent of exports are accounted for by fishing, and approximately half of the state budget is formed by Danish subsidies. For this reason, many local residents are wary that rushing into independence could create excessive dependence on the US.
Donald Trump's proposals to purchase Greenland were described as “absurd” by Denmark during his first presidency. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated at the end of 2025 that Greenland cannot be annexed and international security does not justify such a step.
