Topline
Increased pressure by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance for Greenland to become part of the U.S. comes decades after the American military established its only base in the territory, a move that pushed the U.S. to submit its first offer to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
American forces have been stationed on the Arctic island since World War II.
POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesKey Facts
The U.S. military arrived in Greenland—then a Danish colony—in 1941, shortly after Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany in World War II, to provide the country with defenses against German submarines while building airfields and weather stations.
Denmark and the U.S. reached an agreement in 1951 that allowed the American military to construct Thule Air Base on Greenland’s northwest coast, about 750 miles from the North Pole and roughly 932 miles from Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
Thule Air Base served as an Arctic outpost during the Cold War, during which the U.S. military used the site to scan for missiles and carry out space surveillance, according to the U.S. Army, and long-range American bombers would be able to reach the Soviet Union if necessary, the New York Times reported.
The base was used to help establish nearby Camp Century, a U.S.-led experiment in the late 1950s to develop a nuclear-powered base under a sheet of ice and test whether nuclear missiles could be hidden and launched under the surface, though the project was abandoned in 1967.
Thule Air Base was renamed Pituffik Space Base in April 2023 to “recognize Greenlandic cultural heritage,” and the site continues to handle missile defense, space surveillance and a system that detects ballistic missiles before they fly near U.S. soil.
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How Many People Are Stationed At Pituffik Space Base?
The U.S. Air Force and Space Force have roughly 150 combined personnel permanently stationed at Pituffik Space Base, though Denmark and Greenland also have personnel there.
Surprising Fact
In 1946, then-Secretary of State James Byrne submitted a $100 million offer to buy Greenland from Denmark, the Associated Press reported. Denmark reportedly saw the offer as a “shock,” though it was not immediately declined. It’s not the first time the U.S. has considered buying Greenland: The State Department floated acquiring the territory in the 1860s under President Andrew Johnson, after a report found Greenland had an abundance of fish and minerals.
What Have Trump And Vance Said About Greenland?
Trump has pushed for the U.S. to acquire Greenland since his first term, though he has ramped up his efforts early in his second presidency. Trump suggested the U.S. should take control “for purposes of national security and freedom,” and he previously argued Greenland’s acquisition would be “strategically … interesting.” Vance, who visited Pituffik Space Base on Friday, said he believed Greenland would “ultimately partner with the United States” and choose to become independent, claiming Denmark had become “underinvested” in the territory. Vance said a U.S. acquisition of Greenland “has to happen” and argued the territory has become “extremely vulnerable” because Denmark has not “done their job in keeping their areas safe” as China and Russia have growing interests in the Arctic.
What Have Greenland And Denmark Said About The U.s.?
Danish and Greenlandic officials have pushed back against proposals for the U.S. to purchase Greenland. In a video posted to X late Friday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen said while he acknowledges the “many and many allegations” by Trump and Vance about Greenland, Denmark does “not appreciate the tone in which it’s being delivered.” He added, “This is not how you speak to your close allies,” though he suggested Denmark and Greenland would be “very much open to” the U.S. increasing its military presence in Greenland. Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede told Greenlandic outlet Sermitsiaq a visit by Vance was part of a “very aggressive American pressure against the Greenlandic community” and called for international criticism, according to a translation by ABC News. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the center-right Demokraatit Party that won Greenland’s parliamentary election earlier this month, has rejected Trump’s push to acquire the territory, saying Greenlanders did not “want to be Americans” and “we don’t want to be Danes,” adding, “We want to be Greenlanders.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Trump in January that “Greenland is not for sale.”
Who Owns Greenland?
Greenland is part of Denmark, and the country’s links to the territory date back to Norse settlers arriving at the island over a millennium ago. Denmark colonized the island in the 1700s, and the territory has gained more autonomy in recent decades, though Denmark still controls its foreign relations. Some Greenlanders have called for full independence from Denmark in recent years.
Further Reading
Vance Predicts Greenland ‘Ultimately Will Partner’ With U.S.—Without Military Intervention (Forbes)
Why Does Trump Want To Buy Greenland? What To Know As Danish Prime Minister Says It’s ‘Not For Sale’ (Forbes)
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