This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCF chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t the first time that President Donald Trump has thrust Greenland into the center of global geopolitics. In 2019, he publicly expressed interest in purchasing the island and was turned down<\/a> by the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.<\/p>\n Why Does Trump Want Greenland?<\/p>\n Trump and his allies argue that the Arctic is critical to U.S. national security, particularly for its strategic location\u00a0and the growing global competition with Russia<\/a>. Greenland is nestled between North America and Europe, and can serve as a very important spot for missile defense, surveillance, and military logistics.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n However,\u00a0it\u2019s no secret that Greenland has a large amount of natural resources<\/a>, such as uranium, iron, and oil and gas reserves. While Trump adamantly claims that the natural resources are not a motivating factor for wanting to acquire Greenland, it is clear that they would be an extra win for the U.S. Instead, Trump has repeatedly framed this acquisition as a matter of national security, saying that only the U.S. can ensure the protection of this \u201cbig, beautiful piece of ice<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n @cbsnews on Instagram<\/p>\n Trump also sees taking Greenland as a win against Russia and China, who he claims pose a threat to taking the island for themselves.<\/p>\n Citizens of Greenland and leaders in Denmark, who retain sovereignty over the island,\u00a0have strongly rejected this idea. Greenland\u2019s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielson has spoken out, thanking the European allies<\/a> who oppose Trump\u2019s plans.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Latest Developments<\/p>\n At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which took place Jan. 20\u201324, Trump appeared to escalate his demands, proposing that the U.S. would gain control over Greenland by potentially threatening new tariffs<\/a> on European allies. President Trump claims that these would be 10% tariffs, and he would add 25% more in June<\/a>.\u00a0Many members of NATO see this as a direct threat, and this proposal is largely the cause of heightened tensions among European allies.\u00a0<\/p>\n After much backlash, President Trump has backed down on his claims of high tariffs, and European and Danish officials have welcomed the de-escalation<\/a>. To reinstate its presence in Greenland, Denmark\u2019s King Frederik has announced a\u00a0state visit<\/a>\u00a0to the island in February, seen as a symbolic reaffirmation of Denmark\u2019s sovereignty over Greenland.\u00a0<\/p>\n