Who Owns Greenland? What's There? Can US President-Elect Trump's Ambition Take Shape?

With less than two weeks until his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump has intensified his calls for the purchase of Greenland. Amid these desires, his son, Donald Trump Jr., is currently visiting the Arctic island.

Trump Jr. arrived in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, for a private visit on Tuesday, as his father continues to voice his interest in acquiring the resource-rich island.

Trump's interest in Greenland is part of a broader geopolitical vision that also includes a desire to control the Panama Canal, and a recurring suggestion that Canada could be "the 51st State", reported USA Today

"Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!" Trump posted on social media on Tuesday.

Who owns Greenland?

Greenland is a territory of Denmark and has seen a rising independence movement in recent years. On January 3, Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede expressed his desire for the island to seek independence from Denmark.

While Greenland remains a part of Denmark, any potential purchase by the Trump administration would require approval from the Scandinavian nation. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made it clear on Tuesday that Greenland is not for sale.

In an interview with Danish television, Frederiksen stated, "There has been very, very clear ... that there is a lot of support among the people of Greenland that Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either."

Trump isn't the first president interested in buying Greenland

Trump is not the first U.S. president to have shown interest in acquiring Greenland. The first recorded instance of an American leader wanting to purchase the island occurred in 1867, when President Andrew Johnson oversaw the purchase of Alaska.

After acquiring Alaska from the Russian Empire, Johnson's administration considered buying both Greenland and Iceland for $5.5 million in gold, according to the *Journal of American History*.

More than 50 years later, in 1910, U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Maurice Francis Egan discussed a potential trade of two islands in the Philippines in exchange for Greenland, as the Philippines were under U.S. control at the time.

In 1946, President Harry Truman attempted to purchase Greenland from Denmark for $100 million in gold bullion, citing its "military necessity," according to NPR.

Trump's broader ambitions

Trump has recently made headlines by suggesting that the U.S. military could be used to acquire both Greenland and the Panama Canal.

"No, I can't assure you of either of those two. But I can say this: We need them for economic security. The Panama Canal was built for our military," Trump stated during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

In addition to his interest in Greenland, Trump has also openly discussed the possibility of acquiring the Panama Canal, which has been operated by Panama since 1999 following a deal brokered by the late President Jimmy Carter.

Trump has also floated the idea of Canada becoming the "51st U.S. state," saying, "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!," Trump said in a post on social media.