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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"I am Dracula, and I bid you welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house." — Count Dracula - Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker

Sharp fangs, flowing capes, and a thirst for blood—vampires have sunk their teeth into our imaginations for centuries. Whether they’re creeping through the shadows or throwing lavish undead parties, these nocturnal creatures embody both our darkest fears and our forbidden desires. But where did these mysterious monsters come from, and why are they always so well-dressed?

Fanged Fiends on the Silver Screen

Before there was Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, there was The Monster Squad (1987), where Dracula himself led the charge of iconic monsters looking for a bit of havoc (and probably a snack). Bela Lugosi’s classic portrayal of the Count in Dracula (1931) set the standard for every suave bloodsucker that followed, and let’s not forget the silent horror of Nosferatu (1922), where vampires were a little more... bat-like.

Fast forward to Interview with the Vampire (1994), and we see vampires as romantic anti-heroes, dripping in charisma and existential angst. Whether they’re terrifying creatures of the night or brooding immortals searching for meaning, vampires have always kept one foot in the coffin and the other in our hearts.

The Original Bloodsucker: Bram Stoker and His Creation

While vampire legends go back much further, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, published in 1897, is the book that truly codified the modern vampire myth. Stoker, an Irish writer and theatre manager, found his inspiration in both history and folklore, drawing on tales of Vlad the Impaler—a 15th-century ruler known for his cruelty—and Eastern European legends of revenants who rose from the dead to feast on the living.

"Listen to them—the children of the night. What music they make!" — Count Dracula, Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker

But Stoker’s creation isn’t just a tale from distant lands—it also has a deep connection to England. Whitby, a coastal town in North Yorkshire, served as the setting for a significant part of Dracula. It’s where the Count first arrives on English shores, in the form of a black dog, after his ship, the Demeter, crashes. Whitby’s dramatic cliffs and gothic atmosphere made it the perfect inspiration for a horror novel. Stoker himself visited the town in 1890 and was struck by its haunting beauty, weaving it into the novel’s fabric. Today, Whitby is still a pilgrimage site for fans of Dracula, with its annual Gothic Festival drawing in vampire enthusiasts from across the globe.

Stoker’s life was filled with dark undertones. He worked closely with the famous actor Henry Irving, whose dramatic presence might have inspired some of Dracula’s theatrical flair. And like his character Jonathan Harker, Stoker seemed fascinated by distant, mysterious lands and the secrets they held.

Inspiration: Vlad the Impaler and Beyond

Vlad the Impaler, or Vlad Dracula, was a real figure from Romanian history, known for impaling his enemies on stakes and his ruthless methods of dealing with opposition. This connection likely gave Stoker’s Count Dracula his chilling name and some of his brutal reputation. But Stoker wasn’t just focused on historical bloodshed—he was also fascinated by the folklore of the vampire, a creature that was said to rise from the grave to drink the blood of the living, a metaphor for parasitic relationships and fears about death.

Victorian London, where Stoker wrote Dracula, was a time of great social anxiety. Immigration was rising, and fears about the “other” threatening British society were at their peak—Dracula, an aristocrat from Eastern Europe, embodied this fear of foreign invaders. Add in the era’s obsession with death and sexual repression, and you’ve got a character who preys on innocence and embodies forbidden desire.

The World Around Dracula

Stoker's Dracula came out during the height of the Victorian era when society was caught between strict moral codes and an undercurrent of curiosity about the supernatural. Ghost stories, séances, and spiritualism were all the rage, and vampires, with their undead allure and rule-breaking nature, fit perfectly into this gothic landscape. As the Industrial Revolution pushed society forward, people clung to these dark myths to explain the unexplainable, even as they feared what modern science might uncover.

"The world changes, we do not, there lies the irony that finally kills us." — Armand (Antonio Banderas), Interview with the Vampire (1994)

Vampires: Eternal Legacy

Vampires have always been a reflection of human desires and fears, which is why they’ve remained so popular in every era. Whether representing a fear of death, outsiders, or repressed desire, vampires captivate us with their ability to live forever, looking fabulous while doing it. So, if you hear a soft fluttering outside your window tonight, don’t panic. Just check for bite marks in the morning.