Why does Trump want Greenland and what could it mean for Nato and the EU?

US President Donald Trump insists his country must acquire Greenland for national security reasons - and has not ruled out using military force.

 
Trump Want greenland

His demands have been rejected by Greenland's leaders, and by Nato member Denmark, of which the island is a semi-autonomous territory.

This has led to a wider diplomatic row, with Trump threatening additional trade tariffs against a number of European allies if they oppose his plan.

Where is Greenland and why is it important to Trump?

Greenland - the world's largest island - is located in the Arctic. At about 2.2 million sq km (836,330 square miles), it is roughly six times the size of Germany.

It is also the most sparsely populated global territory, with a population of about 56,000 people, mostly indigenous Inuit people.

Its location between North America and the Arctic makes it well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks, and for monitoring vessels in the region.

At the height of the Cold War, the US had plans to station nuclear missiles on the island but abandoned the project over engineering problems and objections by Denmark.

The US has operated Pituffik Space Base - formerly known as Thule Air Base - since World War Two. The base currently monitors for missiles.

Map showing the location of Greenland and the capital Nuuk, relatively to Denmark, Canada and the United States. Also labelled is the US capital Washington.

About 80% of Greenland is covered by ice, meaning most people live on the south-western coast around the capital, Nuuk.

Its economy is mainly based on fishing, and it receives large subsidies from the Danish government.

In recent years, there has been increased interest in Greenland's natural resources, including rare earth minerals, uranium and iron. It could also have significant oil and gas reserves.

Trump has focused on such resources elsewhere - including in his dealings with Ukraine - but denies they are behind his desire for Greenland.

However he has repeatedly described the threat he perceives from Russia and China in the region.

In one Truth Social post, he wrote: "Nato has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that 'you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.' Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

In a text message to Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Trump also said that he no longer felt obliged to focus on peace after not being awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

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