As international concern grows over President Donald Trump’s bid for Greenland, News Editor John O’Connor analyses the president’s interest in the Danish territory.
President Donald Trump, only 12 months into his second term, has upended international order. The president has voiced interest in Canada and the Panama Canal and his sights in recent weeks seem to be firmly on the Danish territory of Greenland
Trump initially voiced his interest in Greenland in 2019 during his first term, and at the beginning of his second term in 2025, this interest was mostly dismissed internationally as unserious.
However, in the wake of US forces striking the Venezuelan capitol and the seizing of Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro, on January 3, Trump’s remarks struck a more serious tone and has caused worry for the international community. Greenlanders have strongly opposed any form of American takeover of their island, with thousands of Greenlanders protesting against Trump’s calls to annex it and in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital. These protests have attracted thousands of demonstrators, signaling widespread public unrest and criticism for Trump’s disregard of NATO rules and international law.
Responding to the ongoing developments concerning Greenland, UCD’s Nordic Society has voiced their own criticism and has issued the following statement to the University Observer: ‘The UCD Nordic Society extends its thoughts and solidarity to all Greenlanders during this troubling time. Greenland and Denmark are the only ones who should have a say in Greenland’s future, and we firmly reject any attempts by external powers to influence or undermine the sovereignty and democratic rights of the Greenlandic people. The NordicSoc committee remains open to anyone who wishes to discuss the situation or seek community support.’
Global outrage following Trump’s comments stems first from his disregard for NATO, and second from the misleading claims underpinning his interest in the territory. Hours after the United States carried out a series of attacks on Venezuela, Trump asserted that the U.S. needed Greenland “from the standpoint of national security, not for minerals,” citing concerns about Russia. This claim drew skepticism, given Trump’s repeated emphasis on his close and effective working relationship with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin.
Global outrage following Trump’s comments stems first from his disregard for NATO, and second from the misleading claims underpinning his interest in the territory.
What Trump has failed to admit is his interest in Greenland’s natural recourses. The arctic nation with its rich natural resources, including oil, gas and rare earth minerals, add to its strategic importance, shrouding Trump’s bid for Greenland in the name of national security in doubt by international leaders. As China continues to hold dominion over the rare earth industry, a Greenland take over seems like the next logical step in Trump’s eyes.
In the face of global pushback and criticism by world leaders Trump signaled another escalation in his plans for Greenland by saying he would impose a 10% tariff on goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. This tariff would then increase to 25% if an agreement is not reached by June.
However, following the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said in a Truth Social post that "we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region," and "based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st," signalling to all those attending that threatened tariffs for European countries who opposed his plans would not be targeted.
Trump stated that this deal "gets everything we wanted" and will be in force "forever."