President Donald Trump has recently intensified his rhetoric surrounding Greenland, asserting that the acquisition of the island is vital for the national security of the United States. This stance has been met with strong opposition from both Greenlandic officials and NATO allies. At the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 18, 2023, Trump characterized the potential acquisition as “a core national security interest of the United States,” reiterating his desire to obtain the self-governing territory from Denmark.
Following a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg later that day, Trump appeared to soften his approach, mentioning that they had established “the framework of a future deal” regarding Greenland. However, he did not elaborate on the specifics of this supposed agreement.
In his efforts to bolster the justification for U.S. claims over Greenland, Trump has made several controversial assertions that have raised eyebrows internationally. Among these is his claim that Denmark lacks legal sovereignty over Greenland, a statement he made during a text exchange with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on January 19. Trump stated, “Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway?” He claimed, “There are no written documents,” to support Denmark’s ownership.
This assertion is factually incorrect. Historical documents and international rulings confirm Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland. A declaration from the U.S. Secretary of State in 1916 explicitly recognized this control, and an international court ruling in 1933 affirmed Denmark’s claim over the island. According to Marc Jacobsen, a professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, Denmark’s sovereignty has been “internationally recognized, including by the U.S.”
Trump has also made alarming claims regarding military activity in the region. During a press conference on January 4, he stated, “Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.” He further elaborated on January 9, suggesting that Russian and Chinese naval forces were a significant threat to the island. Yet, there is little evidence to support his assertions. Greenland’s Minister of Business, Naaja Nathanielsen, indicated that she was “not aware” of any such military presence. Public ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic shows minimal activity from Russian or Chinese vessels, with commercial traffic largely consisting of fishing boats.
In a similar vein, Trump downplayed Denmark’s military capabilities in Greenland by jesting that their defense consists of “two dog sleds.” While the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol does operate in remote areas of Greenland, this is only a small part of Denmark’s broader military strategy. The Danish Ministry of Defense has confirmed the deployment of Arctic patrol vessels, surveillance aircraft, and a military base in Nuuk, which houses approximately 150 personnel. Furthermore, Denmark has committed around $6.5 billion to modernize its military capabilities in Greenland over the next decade.
The U.S. already maintains an air base in Greenland and has the option to expand its military presence under a 1951 agreement with Denmark. Danish officials have expressed a willingness to collaborate on security matters, but they have firmly stated that Greenland is not for sale.
As Trump continues to push for U.S. ownership of Greenland, the claims he has made remain contentious and unsupported by evidence. The response from both Greenland and Denmark highlights the complexities surrounding international relations and territorial claims, emphasizing the need for accurate information in discussions of national security.
