In his first speech before the United States Congress, the President Donald Trump returned to loading on Greenland. Already in the electoral campaign the tycoon had promised to buy this gigantic island located in the Arctic for his country. Why is it so important for the Republican? What riches are in this territory? Who belongs to?
“I have a message tonight for the incredible people of Greenland: we firmly support your right to determine your own future and, if you choose it, we welcome them to the USA of America, ”he said Trump Tuesday night at the Capitol.
LOOK: Europe rearma: this is the millionaire bet to contain Russia and respond to Trump
“We need to Greenland for national and even international security. We are working with everyone who is involved to try to get it. We really need it for global security and I think we are going to achieve it. We will get it in one way or another... we will keep them safe. And we will make them rich, ”he added.
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, raises his fist while heading to a joint session of the Congress on March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee / AFP photo).
/
This is what you should know about Greenland.
Who belongs to Greenland?
Nuuk cathedral, Greenland, on March 4, 2025. (Photo of Odd Andersen / AFP).
/
Image taken on August 16, 2019 that shows a general view of Kulusuk, a settlement in the municipality of Sermersooq, southeast of Greenland. (Photo by Jonathan Nailstrand / AFP).
/
Greenland It is an autonomous territory that belongs to the kingdom of Denmarkcountry that is about 3,000 kilometers away.
With an area 2.2 million square kilometers is considered the largest island in the world. It is located in the Arctic, In the north of the Atlantic Ocean.
It has only 56,900 inhabitants And it is covered with ice almost all year.
The city of Nuuk is the capital of Greenland and has 16,000 inhabitants.
The temperatures Sox on the island in winter, specifically in January, range from -7 ° C in the south and -34 ° C in the north.
In July, when the weather is warmer, the Southwest coast records an average of 7 ° C.while the average in the north end is 4 ° C.
Greenland Go through periods in which the sun shines 24 hours of the day, even at midnight, according to the British encyclopedia.
The Greenland economy It is based on the fishingthe hunt of seals, whales and polar bears, the export of natural resources and tourism.
According to National Geographic, Europeans know Greenlandia since 930when a disoriented navigator called Gunnbjörn ulf-krakuson He spotted the island during one of his trips.
Greenland’s location. (AFP).
In 982, the Vikingo Erik El Red landed in Greenland and created the First settlements in its only habitable zone. Baptized the territory as Gronlanda Danish word that means “green earth.”
Officially, Greenland became a colony of Denmark in 1814having been under Norwegian-dome domain for centuries.
“From the Danish Constitution of 1953, Greenland is part of the kingdom of Denmark In a relationship known as Rigsfællesskabet (crown joint), ”explains the Denmark Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its official website.
In it 2009, Denmark transferred “Much of the Danish government powers” To a local government of Greenlandiawhich had been created in 1979.
At the moment, Denmark It deals only with foreign affairs, security and financial policy of Greenland.
This territory is not part of the European Union, despite its links with Denmark.
The current Greenland Prime Minister is Múte B. Egedewho has been in office since April 2021.
Trump’s response
The Prime Minister of Greenland, Mute Egede, offers a press conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 10, 2025. (Photo of Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP).
/
This Wednesday, Greenland and Denmark rejected the claim of Trump.
Greenlandés Prime Minister Múte B. Egede said The island is not “for sale” or wants to be part of the United States.
“Greenland It is ours. We do not want to be Americans, nor Danish, we are Greenlandes. Americans and their leader must understand it. We are not for sale and they cannot acquire us without more, because we decided on our future in Greenland”, Egede wrote on Facebook.
For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said that the Greenlands “want to loosen their ties with Denmark” and that they are working in pursuit of a “more equal” relationship.
“But I have no idea that they want to do that to join the United States,” he said at a press conference in Helsinki.
”We are aware that Greenland, Denmark and the US have common interests in terms of security at the north and Arctic end and we are willing to work with our American friends to achieve it. But, of course, on the basis that we have a kingdom of Denmark, ”said Rasmussen.
What riches does Greenland have?
Travelers disembark from a flight from Copenhagen at the Nuuk International Airport, in Greenland, on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Odd Andersen / AFP).
/
In Greenland there are the coveted rare earthswhich are a group of 17 chemical elements characterized by their magnetic, luminescent and electrochemical properties. They are essential for the manufacture of electronic devices, electric vehicles and wind turbines.
According to the AFP agency, based on the National Geology Service of Denmark and Greenland (Geus), the island has 36.1 million tons of Rare earth.
However, the United States Geological Institute (USGS) has specified that economically and technically recoverable reserves are about 1.5 million tons. To have an idea of what that means it is worth noting that the reservations of China In rare earths they are 44 million tons.
According to the GEUS, in Greenland Graphite (0.75% of the world total), lithium (0.20% of the world total) and copper, three minerals defined by the International Energy Agency (AIE) as “critics” for the energy transition.
In Greenland There is only one active mine. It is an anortosite site, an igneous rock that is used as construction material. It is also a source of titanium, aluminum and precious stones.
While the Nalunaq gold mine, owned by the Canadian company Amaroq Minerals, is in the restart phase, AFP said.
As for oil, it is estimated that in Greenland there are reservations for 28,430 million barrels, according to the GEUS and other official sources. Saudi Arabia has 266.2 billion barrels of oil reserves.
Why does Trump want Greenland for the United States?
Residents drive through snow -covered streets in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 4, 2025. (Photo of Odd Andersen / AFP).
/
In 2019, during his first term in the United States, Trump revealed his interest in Greenland. “It would be a great real estate business,” he said that time.
One of the reasons why Trump You are interested in Greenland become part of USA It is its geostrategic importance.
Greenland It is in a key location in the Arctic, which is a region of growing military and economic importance. If the United States controls the island, it would strengthen its presence in the North Atlantic and allow greater influence in a region where Powers such as Russia and China seek to expand.
In addition, if climate change ends up thawing the Arctic, Greenland could become a key point for new navigation routes, reducing the dependence of the Suez channel and facilitating trade between Europe, Asia and America.
The interest of Trump It could also be focused on the aforementioned natural resources.
