Donald Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland has highlighted the island’s strategic Arctic position and possible reserves of critical minerals and oil. A new security agreement with Denmark and Greenland is intended to expand US military involvement while keeping the territory under Danish sovereignty, as conflicts in Ukraine and Iran expose vulnerabilities in energy supplies and mineral supply chains.

Companies are exploring nickel, copper, palladium and cobalt around western Greenland, while another plans an exploratory oil well in 2027 in the east. The scale of the mineral and oil resources remains unproven, but supporters argue that stronger security could encourage the long-term investment needed to develop them; the US already operates Pituffik Space Base on the island.