Greenland Disputes Trump’s Claim Of Massive Oil, Gas Exploration

The Greenland government has disputed United States President Donald Trump’s claim that massive oil, gas and mineral exploration is about to begin in the Arctic territory, saying current activities remain far from large-scale exploitation.

Greenland’s Deputy Mining Minister, Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, acknowledged that some American companies were involved in exploration activities but said the territory was nowhere near the level of development described by Trump.

“There are activities by US companies,” Hammeken-Holm told CNN on Wednesday, adding that “we are very far away from ‘massive’ exploration.”

“There are many smaller explorations underway but these could take years to become operational,” he added.

His remarks reflect concerns among researchers about the technical challenges and enormous costs associated with extracting natural resources from Greenland.

Vehicles on a narrow road in Nuuk, Greenland, on January 21, 2026. Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images/File

Much of the island’s mineral deposits are located in remote areas above the Arctic Circle, where harsh weather conditions, limited infrastructure and a thick polar ice sheet complicate exploration and extraction.

Approximately 80 per cent of Greenland is covered by ice, making access to several potential resource sites difficult.

Since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly threatened to take control of Greenland and its natural resources, drawing criticism from European countries and other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

In a post on his Truth Social platform early Wednesday, Trump argued that the territory possessed significant untapped energy resources.

“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.

The dispute comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions over Greenland’s strategic importance and its relationship with Denmark.

Last month, the United States, Denmark and Greenland reached an agreement aimed at addressing tensions following Trump’s threats to annex the island.

Trump subsequently claimed the agreement gave the United States “permanent control” over Greenland’s security.

However, the agreement begins by acknowledging Denmark’s sovereignty and the right of Greenlanders to self-determination.

It also provides for limited amendments to a 1951 treaty that allows the United States to station troops in Greenland as part of NATO’s defence arrangements.

Although the agreement recognises the potential for cooperation on minerals and economic development, it contains no explicit provisions on oil and gas exploration.

The text, published on the White House website, refers to “minerals cooperation” and “cooperation on economic development and business promotion” without providing further details.

The agreement also creates a pathway for additional American military bases in Greenland and provides for continued US military access if the territory becomes independent from Denmark.

Reiterating his argument for Greenland’s strategic importance, Trump said in his Wednesday post that the island was critical to protecting the United States against potential security threats.

“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,” he wrote.