Where is Greenland and why does Trump want it?

US President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his intention to take control of Greenland, the Arctic region controlled by Denmark.

Why is Trump talking about this – and why now?

The world’s largest island, Greenland, is located in the Arctic.

It is the least populated region in the world. About 56,000 people live there, mostly the indigenous Inuit people.

About 80% of its territory is covered with ice, meaning most people live on the south-west coast around the capital, Nuuk.

An autonomous region of Denmark, it is also home to Danish and US military bases.

The economy here is mainly based on fishing. Large subsidies from the Danish government amount to about one-fifth of GDP.

In recent years, interest in Greenland’s natural resources has increased, including the mining of rare earth minerals, uranium and iron. These may become more accessible as global warming causes some of the ice covering Greenland to melt.

Geographically located within North America, Greenland has been controlled by Denmark – about 3,000 km (1,860 mi) away – for nearly 300 years.

The island was ruled as a colony until the mid-20th century. For much of this time, it remained isolated and poor.

In 1953, it was made part of the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenlanders became Danish citizens.

In 1979, a referendum on home rule gave Greenland control of most policies within the territory, while Denmark retained control over foreign affairs and defence.

The United States has long maintained a security interest in Greenland. After mainland Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II, the US invaded Greenland, and established military and radio stations throughout the region.

After the war, American forces remained in Greenland. Pitufik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, has since been operated by the US.

In 1951, a defense agreement with Denmark gave the US an important role in the defense of the territory, including the right to build and maintain military bases.

“If Russia were to send missiles toward the US, the shortest path to nuclear weapons would be through the North Pole and Greenland,” said Mark Jacobsen, associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College.

“That’s why Pitufic Space Base is so vital to America’s defense.”

Mr Jacobsen said Trump was also likely to be interested in mining potential in Greenland’s vast landmass.

“Today, of particular interest are the rare earth minerals, which have not yet been mined but are in the southern part of Greenland. These are extremely important in all kinds of technologies, from cell phones to wind turbines.”

Trump has claimed that control over Greenland is essential to US national and economic security.

Although the president-elect’s rhetoric may seem unusual, US presidents have tried to gain control of Greenland for more than a century.

“The US has tried a few times to push the Danes out of Greenland and take it over as part of the US or at least get full security protection of Greenland,” said Lucas Vahden, author of . 66° northA newsletter on Arctic security.

In 1867, after purchasing Alaska from Russia, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward led negotiations to purchase Greenland from Denmark, but failed to reach an agreement.

In 1946, the US offered to pay $100 million (equivalent to $1.2 billion today; £970m) for the territory, noting that it was vital to national security, but the Danish government refused.

Trump also tried to buy Greenland during his first term. Both the Danish and Greenlandic governments rejected the 2019 proposal, saying: “Greenland is not for sale.”

Kuno Fenker, a member of Inatsitsertut, the Greenlandic parliament, said Wednesday he did not see Trump’s comments as a threat.

Fenker, who supports Greenlandic independence, told the BBC that a sovereign Greenland could choose to cooperate with the US on defence.

But when Trump first raised the idea of ​​buying Greenland in 2019, many locals told the BBC He was against this proposal.

“This is a very dangerous idea,” said Dines Mikkelsen, a tour operator who was born and raised in Tasiilaq, eastern Greenland.

“He’s treating us like he can buy a nice thing,” said Aleika Hammond, Greenland’s first female prime minister.

“He’s not even talking to Greenland – he’s talking to Denmark about buying Greenland.”