Greenland is the world’s largest island, located between the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans. It is geographically part of North America but politically an autonomous self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Most of its 56,000 inhabitants (89%) are Inuit and live in the ice-free coastal margins. The non-Inuit population are comprised of Danish/European (7.1%) and Nordic peoples (<4%) including Norwegians, Icelanders and others. The capital is Nuuk.
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The Inuit people are the Indigenous inhabitants of Greenland. They represent an overwhelming majority of the population and are central to Greenland’s cultural and national identity. Inuit means “people” in the Inuit language. Linguistically and culturally, Greenlandic Inuit are part of the larger Inuit group found across the Arctic regions of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. The primary indigenous language spoken is Kalaallisut (West Greenlandic), part of the Eskimo – Aleut language family and the official language of Greenland.
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Greenland’s geographic boundaries are defined almost entirely by surrounding seas, and oceans rather than land borders.
- North: The Arctic Ocean, including the Lincoln Sea, separates northern Greenland from the Arctic ice pack and, far beyond the North Pole.
- East: The Greenland Sea and parts of the Norwegian Sea lie between Greenland and Iceland and Scandinavia.
- South: The North Atlantic Ocean, where Arctic and Atlantic waters meet, marks Greenland’s southern boundary.
- West: Baffin Bay and the Davis Strait separate Greenland from Canada’s Arctic Archipelago.
- Greenland has no land borders with any country.
{Closest border-to-border distance from Greenland to Denmark is 1,280 miles. Closest border-to-border distance from Greenland to the United States is 1,225 miles}
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The interior of Greenland is dominated by a massive ice sheet that sits on top of bedrock and is permanently (year-round) covered in ice.
- Greenland’s total land area is approximately 836,000 square miles.
- Roughly 80% of that land area is covered by Greenland Ice Sheet.
- The ice sheet is permanent land ice – it persists through summers and winters, and its thick interior typically never melts at the surface.
- Only the narrow coastal fringe (about 20% of Greenland’s area) is typically ice-free land where vegetation, towns, and exposed rock exist.
- The Greenland Ice Sheet is the second-largest body on Earth outside Antarctica and contains a huge volume of frozen freshwater.
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Greenland’s economy is small, highly specialized, and shaped by its Arctic environment – limited population, and geographic isolation. Most communities depend on a mix of traditional livelihoods and a few modern industries.
- Fishing and Seafood Processing – are the backbone of the Economy.
- Shrimp, halibut, cod, and crab are the main catches.
- Seafood exports account for the vast majority of Greenland’s foreign income.
- Many towns exist primarily as fishing communities, with local processing plants providing jobs.
- A large share of the population works in government, education, healthcare, and administration.
- Greenland receives significant financial support from Denmark, which helps fund public services – this subsidy plays a major role in stabilizing the economy.
- Traditional hunting of seals, whales, and reindeer remains important, especially in smaller settlements – it helps support food security and cultural identity.
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Greenland is widely regarded as one of the most significant untapped sources of rare earth elements (REEs) – the group of 17 metallic elements critical to high-tech, clean energy, defense, and communication technologies.
- According to United States Geological Survey (USGS) data, Greenland currently has about 1.5 million metric tons of proven rare earth element (REE) reserves that have been measured and considered economically viable under current methods. This puts Greenland approximately 8th in the World for proven rare earth reserves.
- Several geological surveys and expert analyses suggest Greenland’s actual rare earth resource potential could be many times higher if deeper and under-ice deposits are included. Some estimates put this figure between 36 million and 42 million metric tons of rare earth oxides (REO).
- Analysts have even suggested Greenland may contain 25% of the world’s undiscovered rare earth deposits – potentially making it one of the largest global REE holders after China – if these inferred and sub-ice deposits are confirmed.
Rare Earth Elements are a group of 17 metallic elements on the periodic table. They are called “rare” because they rarely occur in concentrated, mineral deposits.
WHY RARE EARTH MATTER
Rare earths make modern technology smaller, faster, stronger, and more efficient.
They are critical for the manufacture of:
- Smartphones & Computers (screens, speakers, vibration motors).
- Electric vehicles (motors and batteries).
- Wind turbines (powerful permanent magnets).
- Military systems (radar, missile guidance, stealth technology).
- Medical imaging (MRI contrast agents).
- Fiber optics & Lasers
Without rare earths, many advanced technologies would be bulkier, weaker, or simply impossible.
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MISSILE DEFENSE
United States policymakers and military strategists’ view Greenland as an ideal location for missile defense and broader security against potential threats from Russia and China – focusing on geography, military infrastructure, and strategic logic.
Greenland lies high in the Arctic – halfway between the continental United States and Russia. It lies along a path that would be one of the shortest missile trajectories if a ballistic missile were launched from Russian territory toward the United States over the North Pole. This Arctic flight path is also potentially relevant for future Chinese long-range missile threats. Placing early-warning sensors here gives the United States more time to detect and respond to a launch than sensors in the continental United States could provide alone.
The United States has historically built and maintained radar and missile warning systems in positions like this because ground-based radar can track incoming threats continuously, day and night, weather notwithstanding – complementing space-based sensors.
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Why It Matters Against Russia and China
Trump Administration perspective:
Russia
Russia maintains a large arsenal of long-range ballistic and cruise missiles. Many of its strategic forces – especially on the Kola Peninsula and deployed submarines – could launch missiles on polar trajectories. Radar and defense systems in Greenland help detect such launches earlier than systems farther south.
China
While China is geographically farther from the Arctic than Russia, it has developed longer-range missiles and increasing space and dual-use capabilities. Strategists argue having sensors and infrastructure in Greenland could also help detect or track missiles from Asia that might take polar routes in a future conflict.
The strategic calculus is not just about current capabilities – it is about maximizing warning time and defensive response options against any future advanced threats.
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Russia and China are positioning themselves in geopolitical competition with the United States around Greenland and the broader Arctic.
Russia sees the Arctic, including Greenland, as part of its broader strategic sphere. It has invested heavily in Arctic military infrastructure and patrols to secure its northern flank.
China considers itself a “near-Arctic state” and has been building influence through economic and infrastructure initiatives in the region – such as the Polar Silk Road – and planned extension of its Belt & Road strategy to open Arctic shipping routes and secure resource access for rare earth minerals.
United States leaders emphasize preventing rivals from gaining influence in Greenland. Discussions about expanded defense infrastructure and security cooperation in the Arctic have increased – partly to reassure allies and counter Russia’s Arctic militarization.
The United States and NATO have recently (January 2026) addressed policies around security and “protection” of Greenland. President Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced they had agreed to an initial “framework of a future deal” related to Greenland – framed as part of Arctic security cooperation.
James Peifer