The Greenland Question - with only one answer

Greenland is the largest island in the world by landmass. In his first administration Trump sparked a political firestorm by suggesting that America should purchase Greenland because it was essential for US national security. He has repeated this many times recently.

- Dr Barry Clayton, via email

Greenland is geopolitically valuable. It is rich in untapped natural resources such as uranium, oil, natural gas and many key earth minerals.

In 2025 Donald Trump Jr. visited, apparently out of interest. It was in fact to reignite the idea of U.S. ownership.

Greenland's population is only around 56,000. It is a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, which retains control of foreign and defence policy.

The island is proximate to vital shipping lanes and to the untapped resources of the Arctic region.

It has long been of great interest to Russia and China among others.