Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
January 9, 2026 International law
The United States has shown interest in Greenland before, but this trend has intensified under President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly stated his desire to expand US influence in the autonomous Danish territory.
Recent statements from the White House that military intervention is not being ruled out have sparked alarm in Denmark and Europe as a whole, calling into question the sustainability of transatlantic cooperation. Against this backdrop, the UN Secretary-General's spokesperson reiterated the principle of territorial integrity and autonomy of states, including Denmark.
A long and complex history
Greenland has a long and complex history. The indigenous Inuit people inhabited the island for thousands of years without state structures. Small Norwegian and Icelandic colonies existed in Greenland from the 11th to the 15th centuries and eventually declined.
In the 18th century, Denmark established control over the island. During World War II, the United States occupied Greenland and subsequently maintained a military presence there. In 1946, the United States secretly offered Denmark $100 million in gold for the world's largest island. Denmark rejected the offer.
During the Cold War, Greenland was of great strategic importance to the United States in terms of controlling the sea routes linking Soviet Arctic ocean ports with the Atlantic, and also as a convenient location for deploying early warning systems for intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
The 1951 agreement granted the American military broad powers, and during the Cold War, dozens of American bases operated on the island. Today, only the Pituffik base remains in Greenland, playing a key role in the US missile defense system.
Extended autonomy
In 2008, a referendum on self-government was held in Greenland, resulting in the Danish Parliament passing a law on expanded autonomy for the island on May 20, 2009. That same year, Greenlandic replaced Danish as the official language, and local authorities were granted the right to manage local mineral resources.
Denmark legally recognized Greenlanders as a separate people with the right to sovereignty. However, true independence would have meant the loss of significant Danish subsidies, which, in turn, would have required a sharp increase in Greenland's own revenue.
The richest resources
Despite its vast territory, Greenland is virtually uninhabited: the island is home to approximately 57,000 people, and is approximately 80 percent covered by ice. The island's population density is one of the lowest in the world.
Greenland is rich in mineral resources, including rare earth metals, lithium, cobalt, gold, rubies, nickel, and copper. However, the mining industry is underdeveloped due to a lack of infrastructure, the harsh climate, the island's remoteness, high wages, and strict environmental regulations. Oil and gas development is prohibited, and the interest of Chinese companies has not yet resulted in any significant projects.
According to a 2025 poll, the vast majority of the island's residents – 85 percent – oppose joining the United States.
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