What's at stake The global interests and tensions that swirl round the territory

Why is Donald Trump so fixated on acquiring Greenland?

-  Miranda Bryant

Greenland has long been on Trump’s agenda but the reasons behind it have changed over time.

In 2019, during his first term, he confirmed reports that he had been urging aides to find out how the US could buy the vast Arctic island, describing a sale as “essentially a large real estate deal”.

Last January, when Trump, then president-elect, said he needed control of Greenland he said it was for “economic security”. And in recent days he has said he needs Greenland “from the standpoint of national security” - despite the risk this would pose to the future of Nato.

Strategically positioned between the US and Russia, Greenland is viewed as increasingly important for defence and is emerging as a geopolitical battleground as the climate crisis gets worse.

As well as oil and gas, Greenland’s supply of numerous in-demand raw materials for green technology is attracting interest from around the world - including from China, which dominates global rare earth production and has threatened to restrict the export of critical minerals. By acquiring Greenland, the US could keep China out.