Why Greenland Matters to the United States, and Why Some People Are Sceptical

8 January 2026

Paul Francis

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Greenland has become an increasingly prominent part of global geopolitical discussion, particularly in relation to the United States. On the surface, the interest can appear puzzling. Greenland has a small population, harsh conditions, and limited infrastructure. Yet for Washington, it represents one of the most strategically significant territories in the world.

Snow-covered mountains and rocky peaks rise above a deep blue sea, under a clear sky, creating a serene and majestic landscape.

At the same time, recent events elsewhere have led many observers to question whether security alone explains American interest in regions rich in natural resources. Greenland now sits at the intersection of strategic necessity and public scepticism.

Greenland’s strategic importance to US security

The primary and most consistently stated reason for US interest in Greenland is security.

Greenland occupies a crucial geographic position between North America and Europe. It sits along the shortest route for ballistic missiles travelling between Russia and the United States. This makes it essential for early warning systems and missile defence.

The US has maintained a military presence in Greenland since the Second World War. Today, Pituffik Space Base plays a key role in monitoring missile launches, tracking satellites, and supporting NATO defence architecture. These systems are designed to protect not only the United States but also its allies.

As Arctic ice continues to melt, the region is becoming more accessible to military and commercial activity. Russia has expanded its Arctic bases, and China has declared itself a near-Arctic state. From Washington’s perspective, maintaining influence in Greenland helps prevent rivals from gaining a foothold in a region that directly affects North Atlantic security.

The Arctic, climate change, and future competition

Climate change has transformed Greenland’s relevance. What was once largely inaccessible is now opening up.

New shipping routes could shorten trade paths between Asia, Europe, and North America. Scientific research, undersea cables, and surveillance infrastructure are all becoming more viable. Greenland’s location places it at the centre of these emerging routes.

For the United States, this makes Greenland less of a remote territory and more of a forward position in an increasingly contested region.

Red Mobil barrel secured with ropes on wood structure, against a cloudy sky. Blue pipes and rusty metal bar in background.

Oil and resource speculation as a secondary factor

While security dominates official policy discussions, resource speculation is often raised as an additional reason for interest in Greenland.

Greenland is believed to hold potential offshore oil and gas reserves, as well as deposits of rare earth elements, lithium, graphite, and other critical minerals. These materials are essential for electronics, renewable energy systems, and defence technologies.

It is important to note that Greenland currently restricts new oil and gas exploration licences, largely due to environmental concerns. Large-scale extraction remains difficult, expensive, and politically sensitive.

For the United States, oil is not a strategic necessity in Greenland. The country is already one of the world’s largest oil producers. However, critical minerals are a longer-term concern. The US remains heavily dependent on foreign supply chains, particularly from China, for many of these materials.

This makes Greenland attractive as a potential future partner rather than an immediate resource solution.

Why scepticism exists

Despite official explanations, scepticism persists, and not without reason.

In recent years, the United States has taken highly visible actions elsewhere that involved control over oil production and transport. These actions have reinforced a long-standing public perception that resource interests sometimes sit beneath security justifications.

The Iraq War remains a powerful reference point. Although the official rationale focused on weapons and security threats, the protection and control of oil fields became a defining feature of the conflict in the public imagination. That perception continues to shape how many people interpret US foreign policy today.

More recently, actions involving sanctions, tanker seizures, and control of oil revenues in other regions have revived these concerns. When military or economic pressure coincides with resource-rich territories, scepticism follows.

Against this backdrop, even legitimate security interests can be viewed through a lens of historical mistrust.

Greenland is not Iraq, but history shapes perception

Greenland differs significantly from past conflict zones. It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally. The United States does not dispute Danish sovereignty and has repeatedly stated that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people.

US engagement in Greenland has focused on diplomacy, scientific cooperation, and defence partnerships rather than intervention. There has been no military conflict, no occupation, and no attempt to forcibly extract resources.

However, history matters. Public opinion is shaped not only by current actions but by patterns over time. When people see strategic interest combined with resource potential, they naturally draw comparisons.

Denmark’s role as a stabilising factor

Denmark plays a crucial role in shaping how Greenland is engaged internationally. As the sovereign state responsible for defence and foreign policy, Denmark ensures that US involvement occurs within established legal and diplomatic frameworks.

This partnership reduces the likelihood of unilateral action and helps keep Greenland’s development aligned with environmental standards and local governance.

The broader reality

Greenland’s importance to the United States is real, and it is primarily rooted in geography and defence. Resource speculation exists, but it is not the driving force behind current policy.

At the same time, scepticism is understandable. History has taught many people to question official narratives when strategic interests and natural resources overlap.

The truth lies in the tension between these two realities. Greenland matters because of where it is, what it enables, and what it may one day provide. How it is treated will determine whether it becomes a model of cooperation or another chapter in a long story of mistrust.

Greenland is not a prize to be taken, but a partner to be engaged. Whether that distinction holds in the long term will depend not just on policy statements, but on actions.

In a world shaped by climate change, great power competition, and historical memory, even legitimate interests must contend with the weight of the past.

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Directories that will help boost your SEO

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Wonder blocks on the edge of a table, spelling out the word SEO

I’ve talked about localised SEO in other articles, and how it’s becoming more and more vital to businesses. As an increasing number of people switch their buying habits from in-store to online, your business must appear exactly where your target market is looking.

One of the ways to do this is through directories, and more specifically, through NAC:

Name
Address
Correspondence

To boost your localised SEO you need to have the correct citation and, more importantly, have the directories point back to your website. As a company we’ve recently researched more than 50 of the top directories in the UK - here’s our list of 29 directories that you can add your details to for free.

Before you begin to add your details to these directories you need to apply keyword research to discover the most appropriate description and keywords to use in your listing.

Description: This will be what people will read that will ultimately encourage them to get in touch with you for the product or service they require. For example, here’s a basic description that we wrote for the marketing side of our business, Novus Marketing Solutions LTD:

Novus Marketing Solutions LTD is a multi-award-winning content creation company, based in Doncaster. Specialising in branding, website design, SEO, social media advertising and videos, we make sure your product/service is seen by your target market on the most effective platform. Check out our website www.novusmarketingsolutions.co.uk or give us a ring to see how we can take your business to the next level.

This is a basic description that contains the keywords we want to be found for. Some directories ask for a short bio, others allow you to have descriptions as long as you want; that said, remember that your prospective customers will be reading these, so make sure you’re to the point. Encourage people to get in touch with you - your listing will be next to your competitors’ and people can be put off by too many words.

As well as a description, directories often ask you for:

Pictures of your business (e.g. your logo)
Videos
Services and products you offer
Business Name
Address
Company size
Email
Social media links
Phone number
Keywords you want to be found for

It’s a good idea to write these into a Word document so that you can simply copy and paste the information. It will save you a lot of time re-writing the same details.

Here’s our list of the 29 online directories in which you can be featured for free (last checked 07/07/2020).

*Freemium means free for a specific period, or that the directory offers a premium version that carries additional features.

www.google.co.uk/business – Free
www.bingplaces.com – Free
www.yell.com – Freemium
www.yelp.co.uk – Free
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www.scoot.co.uk – Freemium
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www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk – Free
www.opening-times.co.uk – Free
www.yalwa.co.uk – Freemium
www.brownbook.net – Freemium
www.businessmagnet.co.uk – Free
www.opendi.co.uk – Freemium
www.thetradefinder.co.uk – Free
www.listedin.co.uk - Freemium
www.searchme4.co.uk – Free
www.pinbud.co.uk – Freemium
www.tradepages.co.uk – Freemium
www.ukbusinessdirectoryltd.co.uk – Freemium
www.business-directory-uk.co.uk – Freemium
www.uk-businesses.co.uk – Freemium
www.bizify.co.uk – Free

If you have any problems adding your company’s details to the above directory sites, get in touch with us. We admit that it’s time-consuming, but we’re more than happy to create your listings on your behalf.

Check out our website: www.novusmarketingsolutions.co.uk; alternatively, message us by email: Info@novusmarketingsolutions.co.uk or through social media.

I hope you found the above useful. Remember, SEO isn’t just a one-off project - you need to keep developing new content to make sure you keep rising the ranks. Read our other articles to find out more about SEO and how you can do it yourself.