Brian Kilmeade of Fox News recently estimated that the acquisition of Greenland could cost around $1.5 trillion. This estimate arose in response to President-elect Trump’s assertion that the United States must own the territory.
“It’s going to cost about $1.5 trillion, but it will probably pay off,” Kilmeade mentioned during an episode of Jesse Watters Primetime.
Kilmeade: Why is he interested in Greenland?
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 24, 2024
Whatley: From a national security perspective as he said, certainly a place that is very rich in minerals and is geopolitically important for him.
Kilmeade: It's going to cost about 1.5 trillion but it probably will pay off. pic.twitter.com/f1rNTBC9bM
Donald Trump intensified his previous comments regarding the acquisition of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, in a statement made on Sunday evening via Truth Social, where he announced his nominee for ambassador to Denmark. He asserted, “For the 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.”
Greenland, which is a self-governing territory under Danish jurisdiction, has consistently resisted external control. In response to Trump’s renewed interest, Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, issued a defiant statement on Facebook, declaring, “We are not for sale.”
In what Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described as an “irony of fate,” Denmark subsequently announced a significant military buildup in Greenland, allocating approximately $1.5 billion to enhance security on the Arctic island. Poulsen clarified that this defense package had been in development for some time. He emphasized Denmark’s commitment to working collaboratively with the United States to ensure Greenland’s protection, as reported by Jyllands-Posten.
In 2019, Trump expressed interest in purchasing Greenland, a concept that was largely rejected by experts as well as the leaders of Denmark and Greenland.
Greenland, home to about 56,000 residents, has the authority to declare independence from Denmark. However, it relies heavily on financial support from Copenhagen. The island is rich in mineral, hydrocarbon and natural gas deposits; yet, development has been slow, with fishing remaining a key economic activity.
The U.S. has also intensified its efforts in the Arctic, collaborating with allies such as Canada and Finland to develop patrol ships suitable for the region. Additionally, the Coast Guard recently announced the construction of a new heavy polar icebreaker, the first in over 50 years, to bolster the American presence in the Arctic as polar ice caps continue to recede.
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Greenland assets:
Mining
Camp Century to re open
Arctic Warfare Center
Fishing