Donald Trump renews push to acquire Greenland after Cold War military site discovered beneath the island’s vast and icy landscape.
President Donald Trump is once again signaling his interest in acquiring Greenland for the United States.
Months into his second term, Trump has reignited ambitions that first made headlines in 2019.
His renewed claims are fueled by national security concerns and a Cold War military site found beneath Greenland’s ice.
Trump cites security needs for Greenland acquisition
In a March 2025 press appearance, Trump emphasized Greenland’s strategic relevance.
“We need Greenland,” he declared. “It’s vital for international security—we can’t do without it.”
The island remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
However, Trump insists that bringing Greenland under American control is about defense and necessity, not just expansionism.
His remarks came just days after suggesting that Canada might one day become the 51st U.S. state.
But Greenland, with its sparse population and vast resources, appears to be a more immediate focus for the administration.
Cold war legacy beneath Greenland’s ice sheet
What reignited the former president’s interest is a rediscovery by NASA of a long-buried military base known as Camp Century.
Camp Century was originally built during the Cold War. It served as a cover for Project Iceworm, a secret U.S. plan to build nuclear missile launch sites beneath the ice.
Although Project Iceworm was never fully realized, Camp Century remains a symbol of U.S. military presence in the Arctic.
The base was decommissioned in 1967 and eventually buried under layers of snow and ice.
However, recent research into the facility has raised new concerns and new possibilities.
Pituffik space base and Arctic Defense importance
Greenland already hosts a key U.S. military installation: Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base.
Located far above the Arctic Circle, this facility has been a vital part of U.S. missile defense since its construction during World War II.
During that time, with Denmark under Nazi occupation, the U.S. assumed responsibility for Greenland’s defense.
By 1946, the United States had even offered to buy the island for $100 million, a proposal Denmark rejected.
Now, Trump sees renewed value in Greenland. The shortest path for potential missile attacks from Russia is over the North Pole.
In that scenario, Greenland could serve as a crucial line of defense.
Environmental concerns over Camp Century remain unresolved
Despite the strategic interest, Camp Century presents a radioactive challenge.
Nuclear waste and wastewater from Camp Century have remained buried under thick glacial ice for decades.
As global warming melts Greenland’s ice sheets at a faster rate, scientists worry that hazardous materials could be released into the environment.
The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland has been monitoring the site since 2017 through its Camp Century Climate Monitoring Program.
Trump’s plan to reopen the site could spark environmental debates over rebuilding or accessing the buried installation.
In a May 2025 interview on Meet the Press, Trump was asked directly whether he intended to pursue Greenland.
He stopped short of confirming any immediate action but left the door open.
“I don’t rule it out,” he said. “Greenland has very few people, and we will take care of them. But it’s critical to our security.”
His words echo past sentiments, suggesting both humanitarian concern and strategic ambition.
Whether this rhetoric translates into formal diplomatic moves remains to be seen.
A renewed chapter in America’s Arctic ambitions
The 1951 U.S.-Denmark Defense Agreement continues to allow American bases in Greenland.
At the height of the Cold War, more than 10,000 U.S. troops were stationed across 17 facilities. Today, just 150 remain at Pituffik.
Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland signals a broader shift toward Arctic geopolitics, especially as climate change opens new shipping routes and resource opportunities.
If his administration proceeds, it could mark the most significant U.S. move in the Arctic in decades.