Trump's Greenland gambit explained with maps
President Donald Trump is increasing international tension as he steps up pressure on Greenland to become part of the United States, including a post saying, "As I expressed to everyone, very plainly, Greenland is imperative for National and World Security. There can be no going back — On that, everyone agrees!" on Jan. 20.
The Truth Social post was one of a series by Trump that repeated his plans to acquire Greenland and shared messages from European leaders questioning his goals.
The messages included NATO allies and came ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, which Trump will attend.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is a self-governing country that’s part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and longtime ally of the United States. Trump's determination to take over Greenland threatens a trade war with Europe and upend NATO, a key alliance of Western nations for decades.
Where is Greenland? And why does Trump want it?
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The president posted doctored images emphasizing his intention to take over Greenland.
- One showed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sitting in the White House's Oval Office next to a map showing Greenland and Canada as American territory.
- A second AI image depicted Trump planting an American flag on Greenland alongside Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Next to them is a sign reading: "US TERRITORY. EST 2026."
Trump has not ruled out military action for the annexation of Greenland, saying U.S. national security depends on it. He said he was “going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” in a White House meeting on Jan. 9.
European countries are sending modest amounts of troops the the island nation, with plans for a larger NATO presence, according to Reuters.
Trump threatened to use tariffs to force other countries to go along with his plans, on Jan. 16, calling himself the "Tariff King."
Greenland has maintained a relationship with the United States that started in World War II.
The island is strategically located in what's called the GIUK Gap – short for Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom – a critical naval and air chokepoint between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans during World War II and the Cold War.
Its location gives Greenland a tactical advantage for tracking missiles and monitoring North Atlantic sea traffic.
The United States took control of Greenland after Germany invaded Denmark in World War II. American forces built about a dozen bases of varying size in Greenland during and after the war. Only one remains, the Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base.
The base is used for missile defense and space surveillance. The United States operates it in a pact with Denmark known as the 1951 Greenland Defense Agreement.
What else makes Greenland valuable?
In addition to its military value, Greenland has uranium, iron, and rare earth minerals, a group of 17 metals valued for their use in advanced industries from smartphones to MRI machines to weapons systems. The United States was once a top producer of rare earths, but it has been replaced by China.
Greenland is estimated to have the eighth-largest reserve of rare earths. Gaining access to them would reduce U.S. reliance on China – though the Chinese have already invested in Greenland mining projects.
Then there's commercial shipping. The Arctic Ocean provides a shortcut for ships traveling between the United States and Asia and between Europe and Asia, according to the U.S. Naval Institute. The distance is about 40% less than routes using the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal.
What did Trump's texts with world leaders say?
Norway and Finland:
France:
NATO:
Why is Greenland important to Trump?
Trump first talked about acquiring Greenland during his first term in office in 2019. He has claimed that Russia or China could seize Greenland if the United States does not act and said that NATO would be stronger if the United States has control of the island.
China and Russia have been increasing their Arctic military presence, according to a 2024 report by the Arctic Institute. The study recommended that the United States and NATO pursue a proactive Arctic strategy.
In response, Denmark and Greenland have ramped up their military presence in and around Greenland. Denmark increased its Arctic defense spending by $2.1 billion in 2025.
Can Trump have the U.S. buy Greenland?
A U.S. purchase of Greenland could happen only if Greenland and Denmark agree. That is unlikely, since representatives of both governments have said the island is not for sale.
A U.S. purchase of Greenland would require ratification by the Senate and congressional approval.
What other options are available?
Alternative strategies for the United States include:
- Revising the 1951 defense pact to give the United States more facilities.
- Establishing long-term leases for more defensive sites.
- Expanding investment and economic cooperation.
How big is Greenland?
Greenland is an island nation roughly as big as Alaska and Montana combined. It has a population of about 56,000, nearly the same as Carson City, Nevada.
How big is Greenland in area?
About 80% of Greenland is covered with ice, some of it a mile thick. Most of the island is inside the Arctic Circle, which is being transformed by climate change.
The nation's economy is based on exports of fish and shrimp, along with economic support from Denmark. But that could change as the Arctic ice melts.
Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, Janet Loehrke, and Shawn J. Sullivan.
Sources: USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; Center for Strategic & International Studies; justsecurity.org; U.S. Naval Institute; Arctic Institute