Trump Revives Greenland Takeover Talk But Denmark and Greenland Aren’t Having It
Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are once again stirring up talk about the U.S. acquiring Greenland, decades after the U.S. first set up shop there with a military base. The idea isn’t new the U.S. has tried to buy the Arctic territory before but this time, Trump is making a bigger push, arguing it’s key for national security.
The U.S. Military’s History in Greenland
Back in 1941, during World War II, the U.S. moved into Greenland (then a Danish colony) to protect it from German forces. A decade later, the U.S. and Denmark struck a deal to establish Thule Air Base, now known as Pituffik Space Base, which sits in northwest Greenland, not too far from the North Pole.
Originally, the base played a crucial role in Cold War surveillance and missile detection. The U.S. even experimented with a secret underground, nuclear-powered military base in the ‘50s but that project was scrapped by 1967. Today, Pituffik still serves as an early-warning defense system for the U.S. and plays a big role in space surveillance.
So, Who’s Actually in Greenland?
Right now, Pituffik hosts about 150 U.S. Air Force and Space Force personnel, alongside some Danish and Greenlandic staff. Despite its small crew, the base is a major strategic asset.
The U.S. Has Tried to Buy Greenland Before
The idea of buying Greenland isn’t new. Back in 1946, the U.S. offered Denmark $100 million for it, but Denmark wasn’t exactly thrilled. Even in the 1860s, there were discussions about acquiring Greenland because of its rich natural resources.
Trump’s Renewed Push and the Pushback
Trump has been eyeing Greenland since his first term and is ramping up efforts again. He claims the U.S. should take control for strategic reasons and has suggested that Greenland would benefit from American investment. VP Vance recently visited the space base, arguing that Greenland is vulnerable because Denmark hasn’t done enough to protect it from China and Russia. He insists the U.S. acquiring Greenland is inevitable.
But Denmark and Greenland strongly disagree. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen has dismissed the idea, criticizing Trump and Vance’s aggressive approach. Greenland’s leaders also aren’t interested in becoming part of the U.S., with Prime Minister Mute Egede calling the American push “very aggressive.” Even Greenland’s newly elected leaders have said they don’t want to belong to either Denmark or the U.S. they want full independence.
For now, Greenland remains under Denmark’s control, but this renewed debate is likely far from over.
Why Trump Wants Greenland—And What Pituffik Space Base Has to Do With It
