Trump announces plans for major oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said major oil, gas and mineral exploration was set to begin in Greenland.

His announcement follows a security agreement between the United States, Denmark and the Arctic island's leaders.

What has Trump said about Greenland's resources?

Trump offered no details about which companies would be involved, where exploration would take place or when operations would begin.

"Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He also claimed that experts believed Greenland held some of the world's largest deposits of easily accessible oil, without providing evidence. 

Greenland is believed to hold substantial untapped oil reserves, but their commercial viability remains uncertain due to high extraction costs, harsh Arctic conditions and environmental restrictions. No commercial oil production has been established in Greenland.

Greenland has significant mineral resources, including rare earth elements used in electronics, renewable energy technologies and military equipment.

What's really in the Greenland deal?

The island has also attracted interest for its potential oil and gas reserves, although exploration in the harsh Arctic environment presents considerable technical and economic challenges.

In August, reports that a US oil company was preparing operations in a remote part of eastern Greenland prompted unease among residents and local authorities.

Trump did not say whether his announcement was connected to those activities.

Why is Greenland strategically important to the US?

In the same post, Trump described Greenland's strategic location as "second to none" for US and European security.

"Any future attack on the United States will have to come across Greenland," he claimed, adding that US defenses there would be able to intercept missiles, drones and other weapons.

Greenland lies along one of the shortest routes between Russia and North America, making it strategically important for missile detection and defense.

Its location is also significant for Trump's proposed "Golden Dome" missile defense system.

Melting Arctic ice has meanwhile increased interest in potential new shipping routes through the region.

What does the US security deal with Greenland involve?

In September, the United States, Denmark and Greenland signed an agreement aimed at easing tensions after Trump's repeated threats to take control of the island, including by force.

Under the 10-page agreement, Washington will establish two additional military bases, at Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and Mestersvig in the east.

The US already operates the Pituffik Space Base in northern Greenland.

The agreement expands the American military presence and provides for cooperation on missile defense, while reaffirming Danish sovereignty over Greenland and the Greenlandic people's right to self-determination.

Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Trump's earlier demands for US control of the island had strained relations between Washington and Copenhagen, both NATO allies.

Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez

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