‘Make Greenland Great Again Act’: The US bill that could allow Donald Trump to buy the island

Greenland. Panama Canal. Canada.

The “America First” policy of US President-elect Donald Trump appears to have an expansionist agenda.

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Recently, he has made several statements about his interest in gaining control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, alongside his plan of making Canada the “51st state” of the United States.

Now, his intention to acquire Greenland has entered a serious legal phase.

Republican supporters of the President-elect in the US House of Representatives are working to build support for a bill that would allow negotiations for the purchase of Greenland.

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The bill is called ‘Make Greenland Great Again Act’.

What do we know about ‘Make Greenland Great Again Act’?

On Monday, House Republicans introduced a bill enabling President-elect Donald Trump to initiate negotiations with Denmark to acquire Greenland.

The offices of Republican representatives Andy Ogles, who is leading the bill, and Diana Harshbarger told Reuters that it has been named the ‘Make Greenland Great Again Act’. A draft copy of the bill, first reported by Fox News Digital, had secured 10 co-sponsors by Monday morning.

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This development reflects that Donald Trump, set to assume the US presidency next week, is determined to pursue Greenland’s acquisition. Trump has repeatedly mentioned this plan in recent weeks. He had also asked his advisers back in 2019, during his previous term, how such an acquisition could be achieved.

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If passed, the bill would authorise the President to start negotiations with Denmark on January 20, when Trump officially takes office.

According to a report by Reuters, the draft of the bill states: “Congress hereby authorises the President, beginning at 12:01 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 20, 2025, to seek to enter into negotiations with the Kingdom of Denmark to secure the acquisition of Greenland by the United States.”

It further reads: “Not later than 5 calendar days after reaching an agreement with the Kingdom of Denmark relating to the acquisition of Greenland by the United States, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees the agreement, including all related materials and annexes.”

Trump has also indicated that under his leadership, the US would not hesitate to employ military and economic pressure to persuade Denmark and Greenland if they decline the option of a buyout.

Following his victory in the November 5 US presidential election, Donald Trump’s Republican Party now holds a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, making it easier for him to carry out his plans with fewer challenges.

Why does Trump want Greenland?

Greenland, with its population of 57,000, is a vast territory rich in natural resources such as oil, gas, and rare earth elements. These resources are becoming increasingly accessible due to the melting of ice caused by climate change.

Its strategic location in the Arctic also makes it highly valuable, especially as nations like Russia and China expand their presence in the region.

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Donald Trump has shown interest in acquiring Greenland since his first term in office. Greenland is a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, a founding NATO member and a longstanding US ally.

While Denmark oversees Greenland’s foreign affairs and defence, the US plays a key role in its defence, operating an air force base there under a 1951 treaty. Notably, Greenland, the world’s largest island, lies closer to the North American mainland than Denmark.

The island is home to valuable rare earth minerals used in telecommunications, uranium, and vast untapped reserves of oil and natural gas, some of which were previously inaccessible but are becoming more reachable as the ice melts.

Much of the rare earth supply is currently dominated by China, making Greenland an attractive prospect for the US, Geoff Dabelko, a professor of security and environment at Ohio University, told AP. In 2019, the Danish government suspended oil development off Greenland’s shores.

Greenland’s ice reserves are so significant that their complete melting would cause sea levels to rise by 24 feet (7.4 meters). The island also plays a role in regulating key ocean currents that impact global climate, including influencing hurricane and winter storm activity.

Moreover, Greenland is strategically important for US national security. The island is home to a large US military base, and experts believe its location is important for defending against potential Russian aggression. As Ulrik Pram Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, told CNN, “The US is keen to ensure no hostile great powers control Greenland because it can be a foothold for attacking the US.”

China, too, has expressed interest in Arctic routes, and last November, China and Russia agreed to work together on developing Arctic shipping lanes. Some analysts view Trump’s push to acquire Greenland as a show of strength, especially as rivals like China and Russia increase their presence in the region.

What is Greenland’s stance on Trump’s buyout plan?

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has made it clear that the island’s residents do not want to become Americans. Egede, who has been calling for Greenland’s independence, has repeatedly stated that the island is not for sale and that its people have the right to determine their future.

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That said, Egede acknowledged that he understands why Donald Trump is interested in Greenland, given its strategic importance. The island’s leader added that he is open to strengthening cooperation with the United States.

He said that Greenland is part of the North American continent, and “a place that the Americans see as part of their world.”

“Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation means that you will work towards solutions,” he stated.

At a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen, Egede firmly said, “Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic.”

With inputs from agencies