What would it take for Donald Trump to buy Greenland?

On Wednesday, in his pre-inauguration press conference, Trump said he would not rule out the possibility of military or economic coercion in gaining control of the Panama Canal or Greenland. “We need them for economic security,” he said.

Trump’s presser came after his son Donald Trump Junior’s visit to Greenland. Trump Junior shared a video on social media platform X, which showed a bobblehead of Trump Senior at the front of the helicopter as they explored the island.

Why does Trump want Greenland?

This is not the first time Trump has expressed his intention to gain control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. During his first term, Trump looked into the idea of buying the island territory.

“Essentially, it’s a large real estate deal. A lot of things can be done. It’s hurting Denmark very badly, because they’re losing almost $700 million a year carrying it. So they carry it at a great loss,” he told reporters at the time. The idea, however, never came to fruition.

With his second term due to begin shortly, Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland is attributed to multiple factors:

1. Security: On December 23, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” Strategically, Greenland would bring the United States closer to Europe, where it could monitor the activity of its political rivals like Russia and China.

2. Trade route: Greenland also falls on a shorter and more efficient shipping route through the Arctic Sea. Russia and China have reportedly eyed developing Arctic shipping routes. A former National Security Adviser to Trump, Robert O’Brien, told Fox News that as the “climate gets warmer”, the Arctic trade route could cut US dependence on the Panama Canal. “Greenland is a highway from the Arctic all the way to North America, to the United States,” he said.

3. Mineral resources: Greenland is also a gold mine for mineral deposits such as copper, lithium, and cobalt, which are essential for the development of batteries and electric vehicles.

Can Trump buy Greenland? Here’s what history shows

The last time the US “bought” a territory was in 1917, when it acquired the Danish West Indies, now known as the US Virgin Islands. The US wanted to buy the group of islands to establish its military presence in the Caribbean. It attempted to buy the islands from Denmark in 1867 and 1902 but failed.

Negotiations between the US and Denmark intensified when World War I broke out in 1914. The US was concerned that Germany might take control of the islands and use them as a marine base. A referendum was held in 1916, where nearly two-thirds of the Danish electorate voted to sell the islands. Notably, the residents of the islands, a majority of whom were Black, were not allowed to vote in the referendum. Denmark officially handed over the islands to the US on March 31, 1917, for a price of $25 million in gold coins.

The last time a US President threatened to take a territory by force—a possibility not ruled out by Trump in Greenland’s case—was in the late 19th century, when the US took control of the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico after Spain lost the war in 1898.

The Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico continue to be US territories. Puerto Ricans have sought statehood.

What does the law say?

In present times, the “sale” of a country is much more complicated given international laws that prioritise “self-determination”. The first article of the United Nations Charter states that its purposes include, “To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace.”

Self-determination refers to the ability of the people to choose how to govern themselves. This was made clear by the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland as well.

The island’s prime minister, Mute Egede, has asserted time and again that Greenland is “not for sale”.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Egede wrote, “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland. Our future and fight for independence is our business. While others, including Danes and Americans, are entitled to their opinions, we should not be caught up in the hysteria and external pressures that distract us from our path. The future is ours and ours to shape.”

Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also maintained that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders”. In an interview with Danish broadcaster TV 2, Frederiksen said, “On one hand, I am pleased regarding the rise in American interest in Greenland. On the other hand, I would like to encourage everyone to respect that the Greenlanders are a people, it is their country, and only Greenland can determine and define Greenland’s future.”

The way forward

Experts weighing in on the issue have said that for Trump to “buy” Greenland, he would have to negotiate a treaty involving Greenland and Denmark.

If Greenland becomes independent, a movement that has gained traction in the island nation, it could choose to associate itself with the United States. In that case, Denmark would be out of the picture.

Prime Minister Egede pushed for independence in his January 3 speech. “It is about time that we ourselves take a step and shape our future, also with regard to who we will cooperate closely with and who our trading partners will be,” he said.

“Work has already begun on creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state,” he added.

However, an expert cited by Reuters, Ulrik Pram Gad, stated, “No Greenlanders want to just switch to a new colonial master.”

Moreover, Greenland would have to consider financial implications before voting for independence. Denmark currently provides a $521 million annual grant to Greenland, which makes up two-thirds of its annual budget, according to The Financial Times.