What’s really in Greenland? Why is the island so important?

A desolate island covered in a blanket of snow. Where the sun is not visible for much of the year, and the freezing air brings public life to a standstill. Looking at a map, Greenland, located between the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, may seem like just a pile of ice. But in the geopolitics of 2026, this island has now become the world’s most valuable asset.

After the US operation in Venezuela, Donald Trump is now looking at Greenland. The White House said that Trump is discussing all options, including military action, to take control of Greenland. Denmark warned that such a bold move could bring down a powerful alliance like NATO. But the question is – what is in this ice kingdom? Why is Washington so desperate to take over this autonomous region of Denmark?

Rare mineral reserves
Greenland’s importance is not only in its size, but also in the treasures hidden under its soil. This island has one of the world’s largest mines of ‘rare earth metals’ or rare minerals. Without these minerals such as neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium, it is almost impossible to make modern smartphones, electric car batteries, wind turbines or sophisticated fighter jets. Currently, China controls the majority of this market. Trump’s goal is to seize Greenland and break Beijing’s monopoly on mineral resources.

US surveillance on Russia’s doorstep
Geographically, Greenland is the junction of North America and Europe. The United States has operated its Thule Air Base here since World War II. Being so close to Russia’s northern coast, it is the most efficient place to monitor any military activity or nuclear missile movements by Moscow. Trump sees Greenland as an integral ‘national security shield’ to prevent Russia’s growing influence in the Arctic.

New commercial shipping routes
While climate change is a curse for the world, in Greenland’s case, it is opening up new commercial routes. The melting of the Arctic ice has opened up the possibility of creating a new, shorter shipping route through the North Pole. If this route is opened, the travel time between Asia and Europe will be reduced by one-third compared to the current one. In addition, the ice is also opening up the way for the extraction of about 17.5 billion barrels of oil and huge natural gas reserves beneath it.

Because of all these importance, Donald Trump has offered to buy Greenland, which Denmark has directly rejected. While Denmark sees it as an ‘insult to sovereignty’, Trump sees it as the future of US security.

According to Greenland’s 57,000 indigenous inhabitants, their homeland is not a commodity for sale. But due to the tug-of-war between superpowers, this quiet ice town has now become a hot geopolitical volcano. Greenland is no longer just a land of polar bears; it is the ‘new gold mine’ of the modern world.