What Trump announced

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a 'massive' Greenland oil, gas and mineral exploration was getting ready to begin, announcing the Trump Greenland oil gas exploration plans in a Truth Social post. In the same post, he claimed that the amount of easily available oil in Greenland is far greater than that of almost anywhere in the world, and gave no details of any prospective American involvement.

He also hailed the Arctic island's position for US and European security.

Why Greenland matters to Washington

In Trump's Truth Social post, he described the island, from a security purpose in the defense and offense of both the United States of America and Europe, as "second to none". His reasoning, as set out in the announcement and the surrounding reports:

• •Greenland lies on the shortest missile route between Russia and the United States.
• •The island is a highly strategic location for Trump's desired 'Golden Dome' missile defense shield, where he said US defenses would routinely knock down drones, missiles or any other form of weapon not yet even conceived.
• •He said any future attack on America would have to pass through the Arctic island.
• •Greenland holds untapped rare earth deposits.
• •Melting polar ice is opening up new shipping routes, which could make the island a critical player.

The security agreement behind the announcement

Last month, the US, Denmark and Greenland signed a security agreement. Washington concluded the deal with Greenland's and Denmark's leaders after Trump repeatedly threatened to take the strategically important Arctic Circle territory by force.

Under the deal, two new US military bases could be established on the island and Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defense system could be installed there. At the same time, the agreement restates that Denmark remains sovereign over Greenland and that Greenlanders hold the right to self-determination.

What happens next

The agreement is still subject to a second reading in Greenland's parliament before being put to a vote, and lawmakers are expected to pass the legislation.

The announcement also follows unease on the island: in August, media reports of a US oil company's preparatory operations in a remote region of eastern Greenland left locals and authorities uneasy.