INTRODUCTION

On March 4th, 2025, just several weeks after beginning his second term in office, President Donald Trump said the following while speaking during a joint session of Congress: “We need Greenland for national security and even international security. And we’re working with everybody involved to try and get it. But we need it really for international world security. And I think we’re going to get it. One way or the other, we’re going to get it.”

The largest continent in the world and long inhabited by different Arctic peoples, Greenland was colonized by Denmark in 1721 (Visit Greenland). As far back as 1867, the United States has maintained an interest in what Greenland could offer to the country (HISTORY). During the World War II era, the United States defended the territory for the Danish government after Denmark fell to Nazi forces. Considering both national security and geopolitical interests, the Truman administration unsuccessfully sought to purchase the island in 1946 at the start of the Cold War. In the time since, the United States has maintained a military presence in Greenland and the Greenlandic people first achieved “home rule” status in 1979 (Visit Greenland).

Greenland matters in ensuring “American security,” as the island’s geographic location presents opportunities for American defenses for missiles, submarines, and other surveillance efforts (Danish Institute for International Studies). In tandem with its use of the Monroe Doctrine of American superiority in the Western Hemisphere, the Trump administration has renewed century-old interests in Greenland. The administration has not only sought Greenland for its strategic benefits, but also for the island’s availability of critical minerals.

However, opponents to President Trump’s call to acquire Greenland have raised concerns that such a move would alienate an ally in Denmark and complicate matters on the world stage, including within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Some opponents have explicitly argued that an American claim to Greenland would be equivalent to a Chinese claim to Taiwan and that such a move is unnecessary given the United States’ already-active military presence.

So what do you think? This deliberation presents eleven video clips, five articles, and numerous educational activities to guide students through a review of the debate over whether the United States should acquire Greenland. After a careful review of multiple perspectives, students will determine their answer to the question and be presented with several optional extensions to take an active role in the debate.

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Objectives and Outcomes

• Students will be able to describe key vocabulary terms and concepts associated with the debate surrounding whether the United States should acquire Greenland.
  
  
• Students will be able to identify and explain aspects of the debate surrounding whether the United States should acquire Greenland, including those arguments related to national security, economic power, sovereignty, and international relations, among others.
  
  
• Students will be able to evaluate arguments related to the debate surrounding whether the United States should acquire Greenland and formulate an opinion on this question.

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