TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Greenland government issued a “stern warning” to an oil company linked to U.S. President Donald Trump after its drilling equipment was brought into the territory without the necessary government authorization, according to British media.
The Telegraph reported on Sunday, August 9, that Greenland’s Department of Industry and Minerals stated equipment had been transported to the island’s east coast last month for planned oil exploration drilling. However, the company does not yet hold the necessary permits to carry out these activities.
“A strong warning will be sent” to the license holder, the department said, as quoted by ANTARA.
The project is funded by Greenland Energy, a Texas-based company established last year. The company estimates that the Jameson Land region holds crude oil worth up to US$1 trillion.
Greenland Energy also acquired a majority stake in the exploration project in exchange for funding. However, drilling cannot proceed without the approval of Greenlandic authorities. The controversy has arisen amidst a resurgence of U.S. interest in Greenland.
A few days after residents reported that drilling equipment was being brought ashore, Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social showing himself overlooking a village in Greenland, with the caption “Hello, Greenland!”
Trump faced international criticism in January 2025 after expressing his intention to take over Greenland by military force. At the time, he stated that the U.S. needed the island “for national security purposes.”
However, Trump later softened his stance, though he described Greenland as “vital” to his proposed Golden Dome missile defense system. Meanwhile, Greenland Energy denied any link between the oil project and plans to acquire Greenland.
In June, Greenland Energy leader Larry Swets acknowledged that a company representative had mistakenly informed Greenland residents that a permit to transport equipment onto the land had been granted. “Our enthusiasm for the project led us to communicate in a way that created confusion,” said Swets.
In a letter to shareholders on Thursday, Greenland Energy said that talks with Greenlandic regulators were “constructive.” The company stated that it remains optimistic about the progress of the process to obtain the necessary approvals for drilling.
Read: NORAD Intercepts Two Aircraft Near Trump’s New Jersey Golf Club
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News