Trump says Greenland will begin "large-scale" oil, natural gas, and mineral exploration

Trump has announced that Greenland is about to launch large-scale resource exploration, marking a substantial advancement in the United States' economic and military strategy in this key location.

According to Xinhua News Agency, U.S. President Trump posted on social media on the 14th, stating that large-scale oil, natural gas, and mineral resource exploration will soon be conducted in Greenland. Trump noted, “Experts say that the easily accessible oil reserves in the region far exceed those in almost any other part of the world.” However, Trump did not disclose specific details of the exploration plan.

This statement comes only about a month after the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland signed a trilateral agreement. According to Reuters, the agreement aims to ease previous tensions caused by Trump’s repeated threats to control this strategic territory.

Trilateral Agreement Lays the Groundwork

According to Xinhua News Agency, the U.S., Denmark, and its autonomous territory Greenland signed an agreement at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 22. Under the agreement, the U.S. will further expand its military presence in Greenland. The related arrangements have raised concerns among Greenland residents, and Danish media have noted the need to be vigilant about how the U.S. will implement and interpret the agreement in the future.

The trilateral agreement signed last month provides an institutional framework for the U.S. presence in Greenland. The agreement includes expanding the U.S. military's role in Greenland, paving the way for two new military bases and Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system, while also reaffirming Danish sovereignty and the right to self-determination for Greenlanders.

While preserving Danish sovereignty, this arrangement significantly expands U.S. military and strategic influence in the region, providing political support for subsequent resource development activities.

In his post, Trump stated, “More importantly, from the perspective of U.S. and European defense and offense, Greenland’s significance is unmatched.”

Trump also emphasized Greenland's military strategic importance in his post. He stated, “Any future attack on the United States must pass through Greenland. Our defense forces will routinely intercept drones, missiles, or any other as-yet-unimagined forms of weaponry there.”

This statement places resource development and national security side by side, highlighting that Washington's strategic positioning of Greenland has moved beyond mere economic interests.