Greenland Disputes Trump Claims About Oil Drilling – President Donald Trump’s recent announcement that massive oil, gas, and mineral exploration operations are about to begin in Greenland drew headlines and media attention, but the island’s government disputes his claims. The president made the announcement on Wednesday, October 14, just weeks after signing a major new security agreement with Denmark and Greenland that allows the United States to maintain a permanent military presence on the Arctic island.
The president claimed Greenland has enormous quantities of easily accessible oil and said American companies were preparing to begin exploiting those resources. But Greenland officials say the president is exaggerating the scale of existing exploration projects and point out that many such operations are years away from becoming operational.
President Donald J. Trump, joined by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and wife Jennifer Hegseth, signs an executive order creating a new White House commission focused on military families, Monday, August 3, 2026, in the Oval Office. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
President Donald J. Trump signs Executive Orders in the Oval Office, Wednesday, June 3, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)
Danish authorities also responded to the president’s claims on October 14, noting that the recently signed security agreement does not give American businesses preferential or guaranteed access to Greenland’s natural resources. They also noted that any exploration must comply with Greenlandic laws.
So, who’s right?
Trump Announces Drilling Plans
Writing on Truth Social shortly after midnight on October 14, President Trump described Greenland as a new American territory, even though Denmark still controls the land.
“Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland!” Trump wrote, implying that the land now belongs to the United States.
“There are experts who 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. It gives us location and sightline, like nowhere else in the World!”
The president offered no details on which companies are expected to begin drilling, where the operations would occur, or when production might begin, and the claims were quickly challenged.
Greenland Has Thoughts: Trump Looks Foolish
Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, Greenland’s deputy mining minister, told CNN on October 14 that American companies are already involved in various exploration activities across the island, but none comes close to the scale the president described. Hammeken-Holm said Greenland is “very far away” from “massive” exploration activity.
“There are many smaller explorations underway, but these could take years ot become operational,” he also said, repeating a point made by researchers who have noted the extreme difficulties and expense of exploring and extracting resources from Greenland.
Denmark Steps In
The Danish government also officially responded to the claims by clarifying the nature of the recent deal with the United States, noting that the September security agreement does not give American investors any special privileges regarding Greenland’s natural resources.
Denmark’s foreign ministry said that if the United States wants to explore Greenland’s resources, it must do so within the framework of the island’s existing laws.
The clarification follows several statements by the president in recent weeks in which he appeared to suggest the agreement gives the United States much broader control over Greenland. The trilateral security agreement, signed on September 22 in New York City by Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, includes provisions for mineral cooperation and economic development. It does not, however, authorize unrestricted American oil and gas exploration.
The deal also explicitly recognizes Danish sovereignty and Greenland’s right to self-determination, meaning the island cannot be described as an American territory.
American Oil Company Awaits Approval
At least one American company appears to be preparing to explore Greenland’s oil reserves, but it is still waiting for the necessary approvals. Texas-based Greenland Energy announced this August that it intends to begin drilling in 2027 and will focus on an unexplored basin off Greenland’s eastern coast. Per Reuters, the company is trying to use exploration rights issued before Greenland introduced new restrictions on petroleum projects in 2021, but it does not currently have all the necessary permits to begin drilling. Greenlandic authorities are reportedly reviewing whether the proposed operations are legal and can go ahead.
The Greenlandic government stopped issuing new oil and gas exploration licenses in 2021, citing environmental concerns and the high costs of developing Arctic petroleum fields. Those restrictions, combined with the island’s extreme weather and limited infrastructure, mean that even if American companies secure permission, substantial oil production could still be many years away.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
