US President Donald Trump has claimed that major oil, gas and mineral exploration is set to begin in Greenland. In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, he described the Danish Arctic territory as “our new and beautiful Greenland.” However, he did not identify any specific projects or agreements supporting his announcement.
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Trump linked his remarks to a security agreement reached by the United States, Denmark and Greenland in September. The deal allows Washington to strengthen its military presence on the strategically located island. However, the agreement does not grant the United States rights to conduct mining or oil drilling.
Greenland has resisted Trump’s efforts to bring the territory under American control. The island operates with a high degree of self-government within the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland banned uranium mining and new oil exploration in 2021. Its prime minister’s office declined to comment on Trump’s latest statement, while Danish and Greenlandic authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The future of oil exploration remains uncertain despite interest from private companies. Greenland Energy, a Texas-based firm, said in August it planned to drill in an untested basin off Greenland’s east coast in 2027. However, the company does not hold its own permit for the project. Greenland’s government is reviewing whether the firm can use permits issued before the exploration ban.
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Meanwhile, Danish security adviser Jacob Kaarsbo warned that Trump’s latest comments suggested his ambitions for Greenland remained unchanged. The September agreement provides for two new US military bases and supports Trump’s proposed Golden Dome missile defence system. It also reaffirms Danish sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination. Trump argued that Greenland offers important strategic advantages for detecting and intercepting potential threats to the United States.