Proposed United States acquisition of Greenland

This article is about the history of US efforts to acquire Greenland. For the dispute since 2025, see Greenland crisis.

The United States has discussed obtaining Greenland from Denmark since the 19th century. There were talks within the US federal government about purchasing Greenland in 1867, advocated by secretary of state William H. Seward, and again in 1910. However, in 1916, the United States proclaimed their recognition of Danish sovereignty over all Greenland as a condition for their purchase of the Virgin Islands in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies. Since World War II, the US has had at least one military base in Greenland. In 1946, the US secretly offered to buy Greenland, but it was rejected by Denmark. Since 1949, Greenland has been under the protection of NATO, of which the US and Denmark are both members. Nevertheless, the Joint Chiefs of Staff proposed acquiring the island in 1955. In the 21st century, Donald Trump proposed acquisition of Greenland during his presidency.

The US has long seen Greenland as vital for the defense of its mainland, and former war plans listed Greenland as one of the territories the US would seize and fortify in a hypothetical war. During World War II, the US invoked its Monroe Doctrine and occupied Greenland to prevent use by Germany following the German occupation of Denmark. The US military remained in Greenland after the war, and by 1948 Denmark abandoned attempts to persuade the US to leave. The following year, both countries became NATO members. A 1951 treaty gave the US a significant role in Greenland's defense and allowed it to have bases there. The US eventually shut all of its bases except for Thule Air Base (now Pituffik Space Base). While the US military often takes part in NATO exercises in Greenlandic waters, it has been warned that a US annexation of Greenland would effectively end NATO. Another oft-speculated motive for US acquisition of Greenland is to gain control of its natural resources.

In 2019, during his first presidency, Trump expressed his desire for the US to purchase Greenland; it was turned down and described as "absurd" by Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen. During his second presidency, since 2025, Trump has advocated American expansionism and has sought US control of Greenland. Following Danish refusals to sell the country, Trump continues to discuss U.S. annexation of Greenland, which would break international law. This triggered the Greenland crisis. Greenlandic and Danish authorities have publicly asserted Greenland's right to self-determination and stated that Greenland is "not for sale". The Greenlandic government stated that they choose the Danish Realm over the United States, 85% of Greenlanders oppose an American takeover, and many Danes see the historical ties with Greenland as an integral part of Danish national identity.

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