President Donald Trump said Wednesday, October 14, that large-scale oil, gas and mineral exploration was about to begin in Greenland, but gave no project details, and Greenland’s officials have described any activity as far from a massive operation.
In a Truth Social post, Trump also claimed the island holds unusually large amounts of easily accessible oil and highlighted its strategic value for U.S. and European security. He did not name companies, locations or a timetable for the exploration. Greenland’s deputy mining minister Jørgen Hammeken-Holm said U.S. companies are active on the island, but that current projects are much smaller and could take years to become operational.
Arctic conditions, difficult geology and limited infrastructure make resource development challenging and costly. The announcement came weeks after the United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a security agreement that expands U.S. military cooperation on the island. That pact did not grant the United States or its companies rights to mine or drill there.
Greenland stopped issuing new oil and gas exploration licenses in 2021, although that policy does not mean all mineral exploration has ended. The contrast between Trump’s announcement and the minister’s assessment leaves the scale and timing of any new work unclear.