Trump Claims “Massive” Oil, Gas and Mineral Drilling Is About to Begin in Greenland

President Donald Trump claimed early Wednesday that “massive” oil, gas and mineral drilling is about to begin in Greenland, announcing the plan in a Truth Social post written just after midnight. He offered no further detail about the operation.

Trump wrote that experts say the amount of easily available oil is “far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the world,” and he tied the island to American defense, saying any future attack on the United States would have to come across Greenland, where he said U.S. defenses would shoot down drones, missiles and weapons “not yet even conceived.”

Agreement covers minerals, not drilling

The claim follows a Sept. 22 security agreement signed in New York by the United States, Denmark and Greenland, meant to ease months of tension over Trump’s repeated calls for American control of the island, an autonomous part of Denmark. According to the White House text cited by CNN, the deal acknowledges Denmark’s sovereignty and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination, makes small changes to a 1951 treaty allowing U.S. troops on the island, and refers to “minerals cooperation” and business promotion. It makes no mention of oil or gas drilling. The agreement also paves the way for additional U.S. bases and continued U.S. military access.

Trump’s push for Greenland’s resources has angered European and NATO partners. According to CNN, researchers have previously said that extracting Greenland’s minerals would be extremely difficult and expensive: many deposits sit in remote areas above the Arctic Circle, and about 80% of the island is covered by ice. CNN said it has reached out to the White House, Denmark’s prime minister’s office and Greenland’s government and mineral resources authority for comment.

Reporting based on coverage by CNN and 7Globe.