Greenland’s strategic position in seven maps: Why Trump wants the island

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Marium Ali,Hanna DuggalJanuary 21, 2026 at 02:56 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

In January 2026, President Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has created international tension. Trump claims Greenland is vital for national and world security, threatening tariffs on several European countries if they don't support his takeover. Greenland, the world's largest island, is located in the Arctic Circle between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, geographically part of North America but politically tied to Denmark. Approximately 80% of the island is covered by an ice sheet, with most of its 56,000 residents living along the coastline. Greenland is strategically important due to its Arctic location, sharing a border with Canada and proximity to other Arctic nations.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sweden ×230% Norway ×230% Iceland ×230% World Economic Forum (WEF) 40% Arctic Circle ×250% Davos ×250% Canada ×350% NATO ×260% United States ×260% Denmark ×370% Donald Trump ×290% Greenland ×9100%

Keywords

greenland 100% arctic circle 80% strategic position 70% autonomous territory 60% tariffs 50% nato alliance 50% trade war 50% national security 40% denmark 40%