Denmark pushes back as Trump touts Greenland oil and mineral deals | Oil and Gas News
Denmark, Greenland, and the U.S. Reinforce Sovereignty While Excluding Resource Extraction Rights
Published: October 14, 2026
COPENHAGEN—Denmark has demanded that U.S. resource exploration in Greenland adhere to the island’s laws following statements from former President Donald Trump suggesting imminent oil, gas, and mineral extraction in the territory.
The Danish Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Wednesday that a recent agreement with the U.S. and Greenland, signed on September 22 during the United Nations General Assembly, does not modify existing regulations regarding resource extraction. According to the ministry, this agreement does not provide preferential treatment for U.S. investors compared to those from other NATO and EU countries seeking to access Greenland’s natural resources.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Greenland as “our new and beautiful Greenland,” stating, “Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin,” though he did not elaborate further.
The ten-page deal, signed by Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, aims to modernize and expand U.S. operations at Pituffik Space Base, a remote military installation in northwestern Greenland. The agreement also facilitates the establishment of two new military bases and the deployment of Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system, while emphasizing Danish sovereignty and the right of Greenlanders to self-determination. Importantly, it does not allocate rights for mining or drilling activities in the region.
Greenland has been proactive in its environmental policies, having banned uranium mining and all future oil exploration as of 2021. The local government is currently evaluating whether a Texas-based company, Greenland Energy, can utilize permits that predate the ban. In August, the company announced its intention to drill for oil in 2027 at an untested site on Greenland’s east coast, despite not holding a valid permit.
Danish security policy adviser Jacob Kaarsbo expressed concerns that Trump’s recent comments could indicate his longstanding desire to exert control over Greenland remains unchanged. “It is extremely dangerous to view this agreement between the Trump administration and Denmark as something that has altered Trump’s intentions,” Kaarsbo stated.
Mikkel Olesen, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, suggested that the ambiguity surrounding mining and exploration rights highlights the need for caution regarding U.S. statements. “Information coming mostly from the U.S. side should be taken with a grain of salt,” he said.
Richard Weitz, a fellow at the NATO Defense College in Rome, interpreted the agreement as a compromise, noting that Trump “backed down and settled for less” than he originally sought but still achieved many of his objectives, excluding formal annexation.
