President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that massive oil, gas, and mineral exploration is set to begin in Greenland. The US president claimed that the island holds vast and easily accessible oil reserves, although he did not provide specific evidence or details regarding the developments.
The announcement follows a security agreement signed last month between the US, Denmark, and Greenland to strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Trump praised the security advantages of the deal and hailed the island's strategic position for US and European security. The agreement, signed after Trump's repeated threats to seize control of the territory, allows the US to build two military bases in the south and east of the island.
However, resource exploration and extraction in Greenland have been stymied for decades due to the island's harsh climate, difficult geology, and lack of key infrastructure. Additionally, the territory has resisted efforts by the US president to control it and has previously banned new drilling for crude.