Greenland’s government has contradicted United States President, Donald Trump’s claim that large-scale oil, gas and mineral exploration is about to begin in the Arctic territory, saying current activities remain far from reaching that level.
Greenland’s Deputy Mining Minister, Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, acknowledged that some American companies were involved in exploration activities but said the operations were still limited.
“There are many smaller explorations underway but these could take years to become operational,” he told CNN, adding that the territory was “very far away from ‘massive’ exploration.”
The clarification comes amid Trump’s continued interest in Greenland’s natural resources and repeated threats to take control of the autonomous territory, which is part of Denmark.
In a post on Truth Social early Wednesday, Trump claimed that experts believed the territory had enormous oil reserves that could be easily accessed.
“There are experts that are saying that the amount of easily available oil is far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the world,” he wrote.
However, exploiting Greenland’s mineral and energy resources presents significant challenges, including the high cost of extraction and limited infrastructure.
Many deposits are located in remote areas above the Arctic Circle, while approximately 80 per cent of the island is covered by ice.
Last month, the United States, Denmark and Greenland reached an agreement aimed at easing tensions following Trump’s threats to annex the strategically located territory.
Although Trump subsequently claimed that the agreement gave the US “permanent control” over Greenland’s security, the document acknowledges Denmark’s sovereignty and the right of Greenlanders to self-determination.
The agreement makes limited adjustments to a 1951 treaty that allows the US to station troops in Greenland as part of NATO’s defence arrangements.
It also provides for cooperation on minerals, economic development and business promotion but does not explicitly mention oil or gas exploration.
Additionally, the agreement creates a pathway for more US military bases and guarantees American military access if Greenland becomes independent from Denmark.
In his Wednesday post, Trump also argued that Greenland was vital to American defence, saying, “Any future attack on the United States will have to come across Greenland, where our Defense will routinely knock down drones, missiles, or any other form of weapon not yet even conceived.”
