Buying the world’s largest island? Why not?
In the world of international politics, few proposals sound surreal. However, the current U.S. president, Donald Trump, captured global attention once again by reiterating his intention to purchase Greenland. "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" he declared. (Shabad, 2024)
His strong statement directly positions the U.S. as a country capable of bringing peace to the world. However, what many see as an eccentricity from the president is the beginning of a geopolitical race.
Greenland: Resources and Geopolitics
Grønland—"green land" in Danish—is the world’s largest island. Located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic, it is an autonomous territory under the government of Denmark, with its parliament and government. Approximately 80% of its surface is covered by a thick ice sheet, which holds the world’s second-largest freshwater reserve, surpassed only by Antarctica (Rasmus, 2025)
Today, due to climate change, the thick ice sheets have started to melt, attracting attention as many see it as an economic opportunity. According to a report published in 2023 by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, around 400,000 km² of the island’s ice-free areas contain moderate to high deposits of 38 minerals deemed essential by the European Commission. (Sanchez, 2025) These include high concentrations of copper, niobium, titanium, rhodium and graphite as well as neodymium and praseodymium (magnetic elements used for electric vehicles and wind turbines).
"Greenland could contain up to 25% of the world's rare earth element resources," stated geologist Adam Simon to BBC News Brazil.
Additionally, the island forms part of the Northwest Passage, a maritime route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic. This route could significantly reduce shipping time between Europe and Asia, gaining importance in recent years due to global warming. The loss of ice has opened up new maritime routes, with Arctic shipping increasing by 37% over the last decade (Paddison, 2025)
The convergence of strategic natural resources and shorter trade routes makes Greenland a key area for global competition.
Uncle Sam’s Interest in Greenland
The large island has long been of interest to the United States. Several U.S. presidents have attempted to acquire it. In 1867, when President Andrew Johnson purchased Alaska, the possibility of buying Greenland was discussed. Later, after World War II, Truman offered Denmark $100 million for it. No purchase was executed, but in 1951, a defense treaty was signed, and the U.S. secured an air base (Thule Air Base) fully equipped with a missile alert system. The U.S. wants to avoid any other power controlling the island, as it would pose a threat to its national security (Paddison, 2025)
Trump, of course, couldn’t remain silent, and his stance on the issue has been reiterated on multiple occasions. "LET’S MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN" (Minho, 2025)
Is It Possible?
The answer is: NO. Trump cannot buy the island. First of all, Greenland is not for sale. The idea has already been rejected by the Danish government, considering Trump’s statements as threats. The country’s foreign policy has been plunged into a crisis, with some lawmakers even issuing strong political messages. Similarly, the Greenlandic government has labeled the president’s statements as disrespectful and disconnected from reality.
However, it’s not just about buying an island and seizing its resources. The issue goes much further, and it is important not to overlook the true intentions of the major powers in a region that, until a few years ago, was inhospitable and is now becoming a new zone of interest and conflict.
Geography Determines International Politics
The Arctic is promising. A cocktail of benefits awaits those states vying for control of this area. Countries have had to change their international political conduct, primarily guided by their economic needs and taking advantage of the geographic opportunities that present themselves (Sprout & Sprout, 1930)
Russia is present in this struggle, and while it doesn’t have a specific interest in Greenland, it seeks to regain its prominence on the world stage, focusing on the Arctic coast to protect its natural gas reserves.
On the other hand, China calls itself a near-Arctic state and seeks stability, peace, and sustainable development in this region. However, its interests may go beyond that, as it considers the possibility of creating a Polar Silk Road. It also has a deep interest in Greenland due to potential access to natural resources, international investments, and scientific research (Schinacriol, 2024)
NATO seeks to benefit from the vast natural resources present on the island, and alongside the United States, the Western bloc will do everything it can to prevent any advancement from its "enemies."
In the anarchic international system, states desperately seek to achieve their interests, ensure their security, and gain power. These are fundamental ideas of Realism in International Relations that help us better understand a conflict that is just beginning.
Reflection
The Arctic is reshaping international politics. Accelerated climate change has put this region in the spotlight of many. Greenland has once again become a geopolitically significant area. While Nuuk has prioritized relations with Washington, it has also shown its willingness to partner with non-Western states for the benefit of its economic interests.
Therefore, the possibility of China or Russia establishing relations with the large island cannot be ignored. Trump cannot buy Greenland. The reality of the world today and the limitations of international law make this type of idea impossible to carry out.
However, what many would consider an irrelevant issue because it is not "their territory" ends up being important. Climate change is an alarming reality. The pieces of the world puzzle are being shuffled, the order that existed or the pattern that existed is changing. The great powers are aware of this and that is why they are getting ahead of the facts.
Today it is Greenland and the Arctic, perhaps in the future another president will make a proposal to buy our country because it has abundant reserves of water, minerals, etc.
It is a situation that invites us to reflect, to wake up from the illusion that this country is good because it gives us peace, or the one over there is bad because it wants to change everything. The behavior of each state is guided by its economic needs, and they will always take advantage of the geographic opportunities that are positioned before them and in this way satisfy their interest and when they get it, they will want more.
What awaits us? The future remains uncertain, but we can be sure of one thing: after all, Trump's offer to buy Greenland is not a mere presidential fantasy; it goes much further and is aligned with a broader interest of power.
Bibliography
1- Minho, K. (2025). ¿Por qué Donald Trump quiere Groenlandia? - The New York Times. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/es/2025/01/08/espanol/estados-unidos/donald-trump-groenlandia-dinamarca.html
2- Paddison, L. (2025). Trump wants to buy Greenland again. Here’s why he’s so interested in the world’s largest island | CNN. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/07/climate/trump-greenland-climate/index.html
3- Rasmus. (2025). Greenland. https://www.britannica.com/place/Greenland
4- Sanchez, M. (2025). Cuáles son las riquezas de Groenlandia que explican el interés de Trump por la isla—BBC News Mundo. BBC News Mundo. https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/cvge793pj7yo
5- Schinacriol, N. (2024). Great Power Competition in the Arctic & Greenland’s Geostrategic Importance. https://www.journalofterritorialandmaritimestudies.net/post/great-power-competition-in-the-arctic-greenland-s-geostrategic-importance
6- Shabad, R. (2024). Trump says ownership of Greenland «is an absolute necessity». NBC NEWS. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-ownership-greenland-absolute-necessity-rcna185197
7- Sprout, H., & Sprout, M. (1930). Geography and International Politics in an Era of Revolutionary Change. Sage Publication, Inc, 4(1), 145-161.
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