MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. The US President Donald Trump may seek to launch the purchase of Greenland within first 100 days of his second term, and if he succeeds, the process will be implemented not at one time, but in the long term, Alexey Fadeev, Doctor of Economics, Deputy Chairman of the Public Council at St. Petersburg's Committee on Arctic Affairs, told TASS.
Since the 19th century, the US has reiterated acquiring Greenland from Denmark, since it is rich in minerals, including oil, gas and rare earth metals. During the first term, in 2019, Trump voiced an offer to the Danish authorities wishing to buy the island, but was refused. Now that he won the presidential election in 2024, Trump readdressed the topic, promoting it more aggressively and uncompromisingly.
"There is certain competition between presidents in the United States - it is very important to show results within first 100 days, thus these days of Trump's new term will be most intense and active, which we can see already. I am confident that Greenland, which is in his focus, is just a manifestation of visionary and strategic thinking. He thinks in terms of business, and everything he does has the potential for commercialization. I believe the decision to begin the Greenland acquisition process is due within Trump's first 100 days in office," the expert said.
Haggling is out of question
The Greenland deal is not that the United States will be paying certain lump sum or break it into several payments, he continued, this will be a long-term contract or concession under which Denmark will be receiving certain preferences over a long period of time.
"Most likely, it will be a multi-vector economic mechanism, because it is quite difficult to price such a purchase. On the other hand, Trump's cavalier way of communicating with allies and partners does not give hope for whatever negotiations on whatever sums. Denmark will receive an offer it will be unable to refuse, since there won't be any alternatives. They simply won't have any other options," the expert said.
In case the offer is refused, the US may apply economic and military pressure to Denmark and Europe, though, he stressed, this possibility is minimal. "Firstly, they are parties to NATO, and secondly, let's be honest and pay attention to the size of the Danish and the US armed forces, so there is nothing to speak about. I think it would be more expensive for European countries not to agree selling Greenland. Trump will go all the way down to get it his way," he added.
Why buy
By gaining access to Greenland's resources, the expert noted, the US is solving several problems at once, in particular rare earth metals, since presently the country imports almost 80% of rare metals from China, - the biggest geopolitical opponent. In the context of trade wars, the United States needs its own resource base of rare earth metals, because it is impossible to make them synthetically.
"Another aspect is the hydrocarbon resources, many of which are in the Arctic. Russia owns 52% of the Arctic shelf and a similar share of initial oil and gas resources, while the US owns 20%, Greenland - 11% and Canada - 5%. If Greenland is bought, and Canada becomes part of the US, then America will take the second place both in terms of the continental shelf area and in initial natural resources. Besides, Greenland has a very good geographical location - it is a point between Russia and the US, a perfect location to deploy armed forces and to have another outpost to build up the US presence in the Arctic," he said in conclusion.
Greenland is part of Denmark as an autonomous territory. In 1951, Washington and Copenhagen, in addition to NATO commitments, signed the Greenland Defense Treaty, where the US undertook the obligation to defend the island from aggression. Greenland hosts the US Pituffik Space Base for missile attack warning and the Arctic control system.