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President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that “massive” oil, gas and mineral exploration was expected to begin in Greenland.
“Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“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 and, even more importantly, from a Security Purpose in the Defense and Offense of both the United States of America, and Europe, is second to none,” he continued.
“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,” Trump added.
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Trump said Greenland “gives us time, location, and sightline, like nowhere else in the World!”
Trump did not immediately provide additional details about when or how the exploration would begin.
Greenland’s government stopped issuing new oil and gas exploration licenses in 2021, citing environmental and climate concerns. Some previously issued licenses remain valid, although drilling requires additional government approvals. Greenland is believed to hold significant untapped oil and gas resources, but commercially recoverable reserves have not been established.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump’s comments come after the U.S., Denmark and Greenland signed a new security agreement last month expanding U.S. military access to the strategically important Arctic island.
While the U.S. already had extensive military rights in Greenland under a 1951 defense agreement, the new arrangement expands Washington’s ability to establish additional military facilities, subject to consultation and procedures outlined in the agreement.
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The agreement also restricts military installations by non-NATO countries and establishes safeguards against potentially threatening foreign investments in sensitive sectors, including natural resources and critical infrastructure.
Although Trump had sought to acquire Greenland, repeatedly arguing that U.S. ownership was necessary for national security, the new agreement did not grant U.S. sovereignty over the island.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining authority over foreign, defense and security policy while Greenland controls many of its domestic affairs, including mineral resources.
Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips and Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
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