President-elect Donald Trump has reignited discussions about the United States acquiring Greenland, citing national security concerns. On December 22, 2024, Trump posted on Truth Social, stating that U.S. “ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” He also announced the appointment of Ken Howery as ambassador to Denmark; Howery previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Sweden.
This renewed interest follows earlier suggestions by Trump’s allies. On November 8, 2024, Representative Mike Collins (GA-10) posted a picture of Greenland in an electoral college map as voting Republican in “Project 2029,” implying a future bid to purchase the island. Subsequently, on November 25, Alexander Gray, a former National Security Council staff member, proposed that an independent Greenland could sign a compact of free association with the U.S., offering economic and military assistance.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has previously dismissed U.S. proposals for purchase. In 2019, Danish and Greenlandic officials firmly rebuffed the suggestion that the island could be sold. The latest statements from Trump have yet to elicit official responses from Danish or Greenlandic authorities.
The strategic importance of Greenland, particularly in the Arctic region, has been a point of interest for the U.S. However, previous proposals to purchase the island have been declined by Denmark.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how Denmark and Greenland will respond to the renewed interest from the Trump administration.