Trump announces plans for major oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland
The US president has claimed Greenland holds vast and easily accessible oil reserves without providing evidence or details. His announcement follows a deal expanding the US military presence on the Arctic island.
President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that vast oil, gas, and mineral exploration is set to commence in Greenland, without elaborating on the specifics of the endeavor. In a post on Truth Social shortly after midnight, Trump cited experts who claim the easily accessible oil reserves exceed those found in most other regions globally.
Following his return to the White House, Trump has frequently asserted his intent to assume control over Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, or to exploit its natural resources, particularly its vast and untapped minerals, causing discontent among key European and NATO allies. Studies have indicated that extracting Greenland's minerals would be highly challenging and costly due to the presence of many deposits in remote locations above the Arctic Circle, where an ice sheet a mile thick covers approximately 80 percent of the island.
On January 21, 2026, US, Denmark, and Greenland reached a pact aimed at alleviating tensions sparked by Trump's threats to annex the strategically located island. This agreement, which Trump asserted at the time grants the US "permanent control" over Greenland's security, begins by acknowledging Denmark's sovereignty and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.
While the pact makes minor alterations to a 1951 treaty permitting the US to station troops in Greenland as part of NATO's defense, it does not explicitly mention oil or gas. However, it does acknowledge "minerals cooperation" and "cooperation on economic development and business promotion," with no further details, according to a text of the agreement published on the White House's website.
Additionally, the pact enables further US bases and guarantees US military access should Greenland gain independence from Denmark. In his Wednesday post, Trump stated, "Any future attack on the United States will have to cross Greenland, where our Defense will routinely neutralize drones, missiles, or any weapon yet to be conceived."
CNN has reached out to the White House, Denmark's Prime Minister's Office, and Greenland's government and Mineral Resources Authority for comment.
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