Trump announces ‘massive’ oil, gas and mineral exploration plans for Greenland

US President Donald Trump has announced that “massive” oil, gas and mineral exploration is preparing to begin in Greenland, highlighting the Arctic island’s potential energy wealth as Washington expands its strategic and military role in the region.

In a statement posted on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump offered few details about the proposed exploration activities but made bold claims about Greenland’s untapped oil resources.

“There are experts that are saying that the amount of easily available oil is far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the world,” he said.

The announcement comes weeks after the United States, Denmark and Greenland signed an agreement aimed at easing tensions following Trump’s repeated threats to take control of the strategically located, resource-rich island.

The agreement expands the US military’s role in Greenland while reaffirming Danish sovereignty and the right of Greenlanders to determine their own future.

Under the deal, Washington is expected to gain a pathway towards establishing two additional military bases and advancing Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system.

Trump also emphasised Greenland’s importance to US national security, arguing that the island’s geographic position makes it critical to defending North America against potential threats.

“Any future attack on the United States will have to come across Greenland, where our Defense will routinely knock down drones, missiles, or any other form of weapon not yet even conceived,” he wrote.

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has attracted growing international attention because of its strategic Arctic location and potential deposits of oil, natural gas and critical minerals.

Its resources could become increasingly significant as countries seek to diversify energy supplies and secure minerals essential for modern technologies and defence industries.

However, the latest announcement did not identify the companies involved, provide a timetable for exploration or specify which areas would be targeted.

The proposed activities could also raise questions about environmental protection and the role of Greenland’s authorities in approving resource development.

The agreement with Denmark and Greenland appears to provide a framework for closer US security cooperation, but it does not transfer sovereignty over the island to Washington.

Trump’s latest remarks suggest that Greenland’s energy potential is becoming a more prominent part of his administration’s Arctic strategy, linking resource exploration with broader ambitions to strengthen American military security in the region.