Canada

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U.S. President Donald Trump initially floated his desire to purchase Greenland during his first term in office. Since the beginning of his second, he has repeatedly raised the need to “get” Greenland.

“We need Greenland very importantly for international security. We have to have Greenland,” Trump said as Vice-President JD Vance visited Pituffik Space Base on the island in March.

The self-governing territory, which remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, is already home to one permanent U.S. military base and continues to attract geopolitical interest due to its mineral resources and its location in the North Atlantic.

As melting sea ice opens up more shipping routes in the Arctic, countries like Russia and China are growing more and more interested in sending vessels into northern waters — something that the Danish forces’ Joint Arctic Command is also watching closely.

“Climate change drives a lot of activities in the Arctic area, and that will provide even larger tasks for the military force,” said Deputy Commander Lars Nielsen, who also pointed out the unique needs involved with securing such a large area.

Nielsen said the landmass stretches 2,700 kilometres, with between 80 and 90 per cent of it covered in ice. “Which makes it on one hand quite difficult to protect,” he said, “but access is also equally difficult.”

As challenges mount, Nielsen said the interest in working together with Greenland’s closest neighbour remains high.

“I think that the Danish-Canadian co-operation is important for this area. Joint Arctic Command is the military authority in Greenland, and [we] are very eager to strengthen the co-operation between Denmark, Greenland and Canada.”

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