The Trump administration is escalating its campaign to seize Greenland, deploying US intelligence assets to assess the feasibility of a forced or negotiated takeover of the resource-rich Arctic territory. According to leaks to The Wall Street Journal, senior intelligence officials issued a classified directive last week ordering agencies to gather intel on Greenland’s independence movement, local sentiment toward US resource extraction, and potential political allies in Denmark who could facilitate the island’s annexation.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard blasted the leaks as a "deep state" sabotage attempt, while National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt framed the move as a matter of national security, stating, "The president has been very clear that the U.S. is concerned about the security of Greenland and the Arctic." But behind the diplomatic rhetoric lies a brazen power play—one that could redefine global energy dominance and military strategy in an era of escalating great-power conflict.
Key points:
• US intelligence agencies ordered to gather intel on Greenland’s political landscape and independence movement
• Trump refuses to rule out military conquest, calling Greenland vital for "international security"
• Greenland’s vast rare earth deposits and strategic location make it a battleground for US, China, and Russia
• Denmark condemns US pressure as VP Vance accuses Copenhagen of failing Greenland’s people
Greenland: The last great territorial prize
Greenland represents the last great territorial prize in an era of renewed great-power competition. Its vast, mineral-rich expanse—packed with rare earths, oil, and gas—could liberate U.S. supply chains from Chinese dominance, fueling the AI and green energy revolutions. Strategically, it’s an Arctic linchpin: controlling Greenland means dominating emerging Arctic trade routes and securing a forward military bastion against Russian and Chinese ambitions. With Denmark’s limited capacity to defend it, Greenland’s sparse population makes it ripe for U.S. investment—or outright acquisition. As Vance asserts, America must act decisively, leveraging economic incentives or political pressure to claim this frozen keystone of 21st-century power.
With China controlling nearly 90% of global rare earth production, the US sees Greenland as a lifeline to break Beijing’s stranglehold. But the island’s value extends beyond resources. Its location—nestled between North America and Europe—makes it a strategic choke point for Arctic shipping lanes and military operations. The US already maintains Pituffik Air Base, a critical outpost for missile defense and space surveillance. Yet, as Vice President JD Vance declared during a controversial visit in March, "Denmark has not kept pace… to keep the people of Greenland safe from aggressive incursions from Russia [and] China."
Denmark resists, but for how long?
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has condemned US pressure as "completely unacceptable," but Copenhagen’s grip on Greenland is tenuous. The territory governs its own affairs in all areas except defense and foreign policy, and a growing independence movement could provide the US with an opening. Trump’s refusal to rule out military action—"I don’t say I’m going to do it, but I don’t rule out anything"—signals a willingness to exploit that vulnerability.
Historically, great powers have reshaped borders through force or coercion. The Louisiana Purchase, which Trump’s gambit would dwarf in scale, was itself a product of geopolitical maneuvering. Today, as China expands its Arctic footprint and Russia militarizes the region, the question isn’t if Greenland will become a flashpoint—but who will control it when the ice finally cracks.
Conclusion: A new age of empire?
In 1803, Thomas Jefferson secured America’s westward expansion with a stroke of a pen. Two centuries later, Trump’s pursuit of Greenland reveals a stark truth: the age of territorial conquest never ended—it merely evolved. As the US, China, and Russia race to dominate the Arctic’s riches, one must ask: Will Greenland’s people be "cherished," as Trump claims, or simply consumed by the hunger of empires?
Sources include:
Please contact us for more information.