Mapping Greenland’s Resources, Population Centers, and US Military Base | Interactive News

Greenlanders are heading to the polls today to vote in a snap general election amidst geopolitical tensions sparked by President Donald Trump’s proposal to make Greenland—currently a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark—part of the United States.

Last month, Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede called for an early election in a social media post, stating, “We are in a serious time, one we have never experienced in our country. This is not a time for internal division but for cooperation and unity for our nation. I am once again more than ready to work for you and to lead our country.”

Since Trump’s return to office, he has reignited discussions about taking control of Greenland, an idea he first raised in 2019, citing its strategic location and resource-rich land.

Where is Greenland and who lives there?

Located mostly within the Arctic Circle, Greenland is the world’s largest island and is geographically part of North America.

About 80% of Greenland is covered by glaciers, so most of its population lives along the coastline. The capital, Nuuk, is the most populated area, home to about one-third of Greenland’s 56,000 residents.

Some 95% of the population is Protestant, while the remaining 5% is either secular or belongs to religious minorities, including traditional Inuit spiritual groups.

Around 2500 BCE, the first Inuit people settled in Greenland.

In the 10th century, Norse explorers arrived in Greenland and established settlements. By 1814, Denmark had officially made Greenland a colony.

Though a Danish territory, Greenland became self-governing in 1979 after more than two centuries under Danish control. It is one of Denmark’s two autonomous territories, with the Faroe Islands being the other.

In 1941, during World War II, the US and Denmark agreed to allow American forces to defend Greenland. Its strategic location was vital for countering German submarines and securing shipping routes. The US maintained a military presence throughout the Cold War, using Greenland for early-warning radar and monitoring Soviet activity.

In 2009, Greenland gained self-rule over most of its internal affairs, including control over natural resources and governance. However, Denmark still handles foreign policy, defense, and funding.

A history of US takeover requests

The idea of the US taking over Greenland has been proposed numerous times throughout history.

• 1867 – The US Secretary of State explored purchasing Greenland and Iceland from Denmark, but Denmark showed no interest in selling.
• 1910 – A three-way land swap was proposed, in which the US would acquire Greenland in exchange for giving Denmark parts of the US-held Philippines, and the return of Northern Schleswig from Germany to Denmark.
• 1946 – The US secretly offered Denmark $100 million in gold for Greenland, considering it a “military necessity” under President Harry Truman.
• 1955 – The US Joint Chiefs of Staff recommended trying to buy Greenland to ensure military access, but no official offer was made.
• 2019 – Trump first floated the idea of the US purchasing Greenland from Denmark, but it was rejected by Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. This led to Trump’s cancellation of a state visit to Copenhagen.
• 2025 – President Trump stated that owning Greenland was a “necessity” for US security. In February, Republican Congressman Earl “Buddy” Carter introduced a bill to the House of Representatives that would authorize the president to negotiate with the government of Denmark to purchase or otherwise acquire Greenland.

Why is there a US military base in Greenland?

Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, is located in the northwestern corner of Greenland. It is the Department of Defense’s northernmost installation, operated by the 821st Space Base Group and part of Space Base Delta 1.

The base supports missile warning, missile defense, space surveillance missions, and satellite command and control. It is strategically positioned to counter Russian activities in the Arctic.

About 650 personnel are stationed at the base, including US Air Force and Space Force members, as well as Canadian, Danish, and Greenlandic civilian contractors.

Under a 1951 agreement with Denmark, the US is permitted to establish and maintain military facilities in Greenland as part of mutual defense within the NATO framework.

Denmark also has a military presence in Greenland under the Joint Arctic Command, headquartered in Nuuk, where its main tasks include surveillance, search and rescue operations, and the “assertion of sovereignty and military defense of Greenland and the Faroe Islands,” according to Danish Defence.

What are Greenland’s resources?

Greenland is rich in natural resources, including zinc, lead, gold, iron ore, rare earth elements (REEs), copper, and oil.

It is home to some of the world’s largest deposits of rare earths used in high-tech industries. These resources have attracted significant attention, including from Trump, who recently attempted to negotiate with Ukraine to access its minerals.

Gold pockets exist in areas like Nanortalik and southern Greenland. It also has diamond deposits in the Maniitsoq region.

Copper deposits are largely unexplored in Greenland, according to the Mineral Resources Authority, with areas in the northeast and central east remaining untapped. Iron ore deposits are scattered around West Greenland, while nickel traces have been found around the island’s southwest coast.

Graphite, used mostly in EV batteries and steelmaking, is also reported to exist in Greenland, with exploration around Amitsoq. While zinc has been found in the north of Greenland, titanium and vanadium deposits are located in the southwest, east, and south of the territory. Tungsten is also found in central-east and northeast Greenland, with assessed deposits in the south and west.

How big is Greenland in reality?

On some map projections, which enlarge landmasses near the poles, Greenland appears much larger than it really is.

In reality, the Arctic island covers 2.17 million square kilometers (836,330 square miles), making it roughly three times the size of the US state of Texas, or about the same size as Saudi Arabia, Mexico, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.