WASHINGTON,14 October 2026, US President Donald Trump has announced that large-scale oil, gas and mineral exploration is being prepared in Greenland, highlighting the Arctic island’s natural resources and strategic importance to US and European security.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump said major exploration activities were about to begin, claiming that Greenland had substantial oil reserves. However, he did not provide details of the planned operations or specify the extent of US involvement.
Greenland has attracted growing international interest because of its untapped mineral resources, including rare earth deposits, as well as the potential for new shipping routes as Arctic ice melts.
The island also occupies a strategically important position along the shortest missile routes between Russia and the United States, making it significant to Washington’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system.
Trump described Greenland’s location as unmatched for defence purposes, arguing that it would provide an important vantage point for detecting and intercepting potential threats.
The announcement follows a security agreement signed by the United States, Greenland and Denmark in September, after Trump threatened to seize the Danish territory by force.
Under the reported 10-page agreement, the United States will establish two additional military bases in southern and eastern Greenland, at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, alongside its existing Pituffik base in the north.
Meanwhile, reports in August about preparatory operations by a US oil company in a remote part of eastern Greenland reportedly raised concerns among local residents and authorities.
The latest announcement could intensify attention on Greenland’s natural resources and strategic position, although the scope, timeline and participants in the proposed exploration activities remain unclear.
-FMT
