Denmark has pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s claim that oil, gas and mineral exploration is about to begin in Greenland, saying a recent security agreement did not give American companies special access to the island’s resources.
What the agreement covers
The deal, signed by Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen in September, concerns security cooperation. It allows the United States to modernise and expand its activity at the Pituffik Space Base and outlines further military cooperation. It also reaffirms Danish sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination.
The agreement contains no grant of mining or drilling rights. Denmark says any resource development must follow Greenland’s laws and apply equally to investors from other NATO and European Union countries.
Greenland’s own rules
Greenland halted new oil exploration and uranium mining in 2021. A Texas-based company has discussed drilling in 2027 using older permits, but it does not currently hold a new permit for the proposed project.
Trump’s social media post described exploration as imminent but offered no details. Danish officials say the agreement does not change who controls resource decisions. The disagreement highlights the gap between Washington’s public claims and the limited security terms negotiated with Copenhagen and Nuuk.
