Denmark has emphasized that US resource exploration in Greenland must adhere to the island’s laws, following President Donald Trump's assertions regarding oil, gas, and mineral extraction. The Danish Foreign Ministry stated on Wednesday that a recent agreement between Denmark, Greenland, and the US does not change the regulations governing resource extraction. The ministry clarified that the agreement does not provide US investors with any preferential treatment compared to investors from other NATO and EU countries regarding access to Greenland's natural resources.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump referred to Greenland as “our new and beautiful Greenland” and claimed that “Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin,” although he did not provide specific details. The agreement, signed by Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on September 22 during the United Nations General Assembly, concluded months of tensions over Trump's previous threats to control Greenland.
The deal allows the US to modernize and expand its operations at the Pituffik Space Base, a military facility in northwest Greenland, and facilitates the establishment of two new military bases and Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system. It also reaffirms Danish sovereignty and the right to self-determination for Greenlanders, but does not allocate any rights for mining or drilling.
Greenland had previously banned uranium mining and all future oil exploration in 2021. The local government is currently reviewing whether a Texas firm, Greenland Energy, can utilize permits that were issued before the ban. The company announced in August its intention to drill for oil in 2027 at an untested basin on Greenland’s east coast, despite lacking its own permit.
Danish security policy adviser Jacob Kaarsbo cautioned that Trump’s remarks might indicate his ongoing interest in controlling Greenland. He stated, “It is extremely dangerous to view this agreement between the Trump administration and Denmark as something that has altered Trump’s intentions.” Mikkel Olesen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, noted that the specifics regarding mining and exploration rights remain ambiguous and that information primarily from the US should be regarded cautiously. Richard Weitz, a fellow at the NATO Defense College in Rome, remarked that Trump “backed down and settled for less” than he originally sought but still achieved most of his objectives, excluding formal annexation.