The map that reveals why Greenland is so coveted

Far beyond ice, Greenland is a key piece in world geopolitics, combining mineral wealth and military presence in the United States

Greenlandes are going to the polls today to vote for an early general election amid President Donald Trump’s allegations of making Greenland – currently a semi -autonomous territory of the Denmark Kingdom – part of the United States. Last month, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede asked for an early election in a publication on social networks, stating: “We are in a serious moment. A moment we never experienced in our country. The moment is not for internal division, but for cooperation and unity for our country. I am once again than ready to work for you and lead our country.”

Since Trump returned to power, he has rekindled the discussions about taking control of Greenland, something he first spoke in 2019, given his strategic location and resource -rich lands.

Where is Greenland and who lives there?

Located mainly within the Arctic Polar Circle, Greenland is the largest island in the world and is geographically part of North America.

About 80 percent of Greenland is covered by glaciers, so most of its population lives along the coast. The capital, Nuuk, is the most populous area, home of about one third of the 56,000 residents of Greenland.

About 95% of the population is Protestant, while the remaining 5% are secular or belonging to religious minorities, including traditional innite spiritual groups.

Around 2500 BC, the first innate people settled in Greenland.

In the tenth century, Nordic explorers arrived in Greenland and established settlements. In 1814, Denmark officially made Greenland a colony.

Although it is a Danish territory, Greenland became self-government in 1979 after more than two centuries under Danish control. It is one of two autonomous territories of Denmark, with the Faroé islands being the other.

In 1941, during World War II, the US and Denmark agreed to allow US forces to defend Greenland. Its strategic location was vital to combating German submarines and protecting navigation routes. The US maintained a military presence during the Cold War, using Greenland for early warning radar and monitoring Soviet activity.

In 2009, Greenland gained self -government about most of its internal affairs, including control over natural resources and governance. However, Denmark still deals with foreign policy, defense and financing.

A history of US acquisition requests

Greenland’s taking has been proposed numerous times throughout history.

• 1867 The then US Secretary of State explored the purchase of Greenland and Iceland from Denmark, but Denmark showed no interest in selling.
• 1910 – A triple land exchange was proposed involving the acquisition of Greenland by the US in exchange for Denmark delivery of US -occupied parts, and the return of northern Schleswig from Germany to Denmark.
• 1946 – The US secretly offered Denmark $ 100 million in Gold by Greenland. He was considered a “military need” under President Harry Truman.
• 1955 -US joint bosses have recommended trying to buy Greenland to ensure military access, but no official offer has been made.
• 2019 -Trump first launched the idea of ​​the US buying Greenland from Denmark, however, was rejected by the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. This led to the cancellation of a state visit from Trump to Copenhagen.
• 2025 – President Trump said he possessing Greenland was a “need” for US security. In February, Republican Congressman Earl “Buddy” Carter presented a bill to the Chamber of Representatives who would authorize the president to negotiate with the Denmark government to buy or purchase Greenland.

Why is there a US military base in Greenland?

Pituffy space base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, is located in the northwest corner of Greenland. It is the northernmost installation of the Department of Defense, and is operated by the 821ST Space Base Group and part of the Delta 1 space base.

The base supports missile warning missions, missile defense and space surveillance, as well as satellite control and control. It is strategically positioned to combat Russian activities in the Arctic.

About 650 employees are allocated to the base, including members of the US Air Force and Space Force, as well as Canadian, Danes and Greenlandic civilians.

Under a 1951 agreement with Denmark, the US is allowed to establish and maintain military facilities in Greenland as part of mutual defense within the NATO structure.

Denmark also has a military presence in Greenland under the joint command of the Arctic, based in Nuuk, where its main tasks are surveillance and search and rescue operations, and the “affirmation of sovereignty and military defense of Greenland and the Faroé Islands”, according to the Danish defense.

What are the resources of Greenland?

Greenland is rich in natural resources, including zinc, lead, gold, iron ore, rare lands (etcs), copper and oil.

It is home to some of the largest rare land deposits in the world used in high -tech industries. These resources attracted significant attention, including Trump, who recently tried to negotiate with Ukraine to access their minerals.

Gold pockets exist in areas such as Nanortalik and southern Greenland. There are also diamond deposits in the Manitsoq region.

Copper deposits are widely unexplored in Greenland, according to Mineral Resources Authority, with areas in the Northeast and widely unexplored center-east. Iron ore deposits are spread around Western Greenland, while traces of nickel were found around the southwest coast of the island.

Graphite, mainly used in electric vehicle batteries and steel manufacturing, is also reported as existing in Greenland, with exploration around Amitsoq. While Zinc was found in northern Greenland, Titanium and Vanadium deposits are located in the southwest, east and south of the territory. Tungsten is also found in the center-eastern and northeast of Greenland, with deposits evaluated in the south and west.

What is the actual size of Greenland?

In some map projections, which expand the land masses near the poles, Greenland seems much larger than it really is.

In fact, Arctic Island covers 2.17 million square kilometers (836,330 square miles), which makes it approximately three times larger than the American state of Texas, or approximately the same size as Saudi Arabia, Mexico or Democratic Republic of Congo.

Via al Jazeera*