Greenland’s government has disputed US President Donald Trump’s claim that extensive oil, gas and mineral exploration is about to begin, raising questions about the timeline for developing the Arctic territory’s natural resources.
The island faces significant barriers to resource development, including harsh weather, remote terrain and limited infrastructure. Much of Greenland is covered by ice, making exploration and extraction costly and potentially lengthy undertakings.
CNN reported that Greenland’s deputy mining minister, Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, acknowledged the involvement of US companies in the territory but indicated that their activities do not match the scale of exploration described by Trump.
The US president made his claim in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, saying major exploration was preparing to commence. Some projects in Greenland, however, could take years to become operational.
The issue is also linked to Washington’s interest in Greenland’s strategic position and natural resources. The territory governs its domestic affairs and controls its mineral resources but remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which retains responsibility for defence and foreign policy.
Last month, the United States, Denmark and Greenland reached an agreement intended to ease tensions through security and economic cooperation. The arrangement reaffirmed Danish sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination, but did not specify oil or gas exploration projects.
