Trump Announces Imminent 'Massive' Oil and Gas Exploitation in Greenland

President Donald Trump announced early Wednesday that "massive oil, gas and mineral exploitation is getting ready to begin" in Greenland, though he did not offer specific details about the operation. Trump stated on Truth Social, shortly after midnight, that "There are experts that are saying that the amount of easily available oil is far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the world."

Since his return to the White House, Trump has frequently expressed interest in controlling Greenland or accessing its natural resources, including its extensive untapped minerals. This stance has caused friction with European and NATO partners. Researchers have previously noted the significant challenges and high costs associated with extracting Greenland's minerals, as many deposits are situated in remote areas above the Arctic Circle, beneath a mile-thick polar ice sheet. Approximately 80 percent of the island is covered by ice.

Last month, the United States, Denmark, and Greenland finalized an agreement aimed at de-escalating tensions that arose from Trump's previous annexation proposals. Trump described this agreement at the time as granting the U.S. "permanent control" over Greenland's security. The agreement begins by acknowledging Denmark's sovereignty and Greenlanders' right to self-determination. It introduces minor modifications to a 1951 treaty that permits the U.S. to station troops in Greenland as part of NATO's defense. While the agreement does not explicitly mention oil or gas, it does acknowledge "minerals cooperation" and "cooperation on economic development and business promotion," with no further specifics provided, according to the White House website's text of the agreement. The pact also facilitates the establishment of additional U.S. bases and assures U.S. military access should Greenland gain independence from Denmark.

In his Wednesday post, Trump also asserted, "Any future attack on the United States will have to come across Greenland, where our Defense will routinely knock down drones, missiles, or any other form of weapon not yet even conceived." CNN has sought comments from the White House, the Danish Prime Minister’s Office, and Greenland’s government and Mineral Resources Authority.