{"id":26400,"date":"2026-01-20T16:23:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T00:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=26400"},"modified":"2026-01-21T14:51:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T22:51:34","slug":"why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top-768x432.jpg\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top-1920x1080.jpg 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top-1280x720.jpg 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top-768x432.jpg 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"Photo of a group of people protesting.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  People participate in a Hands off Greenland protest in Copenhagen. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons\/Jens Cederskjold.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=politics\">Politics<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>Why Trump is really targeting Greenland<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Trump\u2019s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong \u2014 but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China\u2019s economic interests.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Steven Lamy<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">January 20, 2026<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 4.0350275 0 1.5167124.60096154 2.9475732 1.68841575 4.0350274 1.058837 1.0874543 2.51831502 1.6884158 4.03502747 1.6884158 1.44087681 0 2.80427251-.5423678 3.86936601-1.5289606l.1656615-.1594552 2.2321428-2.2321428-1.6311813-1.6311813-2.2321429 2.26076c-.6581959.658196-1.5167124 1.0016026-2.43246332 1.0016026s-1.7742674-.3434066-2.43246337-1.0016026c-.65819597-.6581959-1.00160257-1.5167124-1.00160257-2.4324633 0-.8547009.2991453-1.6595442.87416905-2.2981957l.12743352-.1342677 2.23214286-2.2321429zm6.88661855-.40736607-5.26116068 5.26116075 1.61881868 1.6188186 5.2611607-5.2611607zm1.3837569-5.54501488c-1.4408768 0-2.8042725.54236779-3.869366 1.52896062l-.1656615.15945513-2.23214282 2.23214286 1.63118132 1.63118132 2.2321429-2.23214286c.6581959-.65819597 1.5167124-1.00160256 2.4324633-1.00160256s1.7742674.34340659 2.4324634 1.00160256 1.0016026 1.51671246 1.0016026 2.43246337c0 .85470089-.2991453 1.65954419-.8741691 2.29819559l-.1274335.1342678-2.2321429 2.2321428 1.5739469 1.5739469 2.2321429-2.2321428c1.0874542-1.058837 1.6884157-2.5183151 1.6884157-4.03502751 0-1.51671245-.6009615-2.94757326-1.6884157-4.03502747-1.058837-1.08745421-2.518315-1.68841575-4.0350275-1.68841575z\" transform=\"translate(-3 -3)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Copy Link<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_facebook\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#facebook\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Facebook\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_facebook\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m23.9512 6h-16.9024c-.57923625 0-1.0488.46956375-1.0488 1.0488v16.9024c0 .5792362.46956375 1.0488 1.0488 1.0488h9.10024v-7.34768h-2.46772v-2.87584h2.46772v-2.11508c0-2.45404 1.49872-3.79012 3.68828-3.79012.7389668-.00263323 1.4775241.03516995 2.21236.11324v2.56348h-1.51392c-1.18788 0-1.4174.56544-1.4174 1.39612v1.8316h2.84772l-.37088 2.87584h-2.47684v7.34844h4.83284c.5792362 0 1.0488-.4695638 1.0488-1.0488v-16.9024c0-.57923625-.4695638-1.0488-1.0488-1.0488z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -6)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Facebook<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_twitter\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#twitter\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"X\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_twitter\">\n              <svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\"\n\t y=\"0px\" viewBox=\"0 0 30 30\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 30 30\" xml:space=\"preserve\" width=\"19\" height=\"19\">\n<path fill=\"#000\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M14.5,16.2l-0.8-1.1l-6.3-9h2.7l5.1,7.3l0.8,1.1\n\tl6.6,9.4h-2.7L14.5,16.2L14.5,16.2z M16.9,13.4l7.4-8.7h-1.8l-6.5,7.5L11,4.8H5l7.8,11.4L5,25.2h1.8l6.8-7.9l5.5,7.9h6L16.9,13.4\n\tL16.9,13.4z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">X<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_linkedin\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#linkedin\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Linkedin\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_linkedin\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m25 21.4220779c0 1.974026-1.6038961 3.5779221-3.5779221 3.5779221h-11.84415582c-1.97402598 0-3.57792208-1.6038961-3.57792208-3.5779221v-11.84415582c0-1.97402598 1.6038961-3.57792208 3.57792208-3.57792208h11.84415582c1.974026 0 3.5779221 1.6038961 3.5779221 3.57792208zm-14.5584416-12.21428569c-.98701295 0-1.60389606.61688311-1.60389606 1.48051949-.12337663.8636364.49350649 1.4805195 1.48051946 1.4805195.987013 0 1.6038961-.6168831 1.6038961-1.4805195 0-.86363638-.6168831-1.48051949-1.4805195-1.48051949zm1.3571429 12.70779219v-8.6363636h-2.83766234v8.6363636zm10.2402597 0v-4.9350649c0-2.5909091-1.3571428-3.8246753-3.3311688-3.8246753-1.4805195 0-2.0974026.8636363-2.4675325 1.4805194v-1.2337662h-2.8376623v8.6363636h2.8376623v-4.9350649c0-.2467532 0-.4935065.1233767-.7402597.1233766-.4935065.6168831-.987013 1.4805194-.987013.987013 0 1.4805195.7402597 1.4805195 1.974026v4.564935z\" transform=\"translate(-6 -6)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">LinkedIn<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_bluesky\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#bluesky\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Bluesky\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_bluesky\">\n              <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n                <path fill=\"#00000\" d=\"M12 10.8c-1.087-2.114-4.046-6.053-6.798-7.995C2.566.944 1.561 1.266.902 1.565C.139 1.908 0 3.08 0 3.768c0 .69.378 5.65.624 6.479c.815 2.736 3.713 3.66 6.383 3.364c.136-.02.275-.039.415-.056c-.138.022-.276.04-.415.056c-3.912.58-7.387 2.005-2.83 7.078c5.013 5.19 6.87-1.113 7.823-4.308c.953 3.195 2.05 9.271 7.733 4.308c4.267-4.308 1.172-6.498-2.74-7.078a8.741 8.741 0 0 1-.415-.056c.14.017.279.036.415.056c2.67.297 5.568-.628 6.383-3.364c.246-.828.624-5.79.624-6.478c0-.69-.139-1.861-.902-2.206c-.659-.298-1.664-.62-4.3 1.24C16.046 4.748 13.087 8.687 12 10.8\"  fill-rule=\"evenodd\" \/>\n              <\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Bluesky<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                                <a class=\"a2a_button_email\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#email\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"E-mail\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_print\">\n              <svg height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 12\" width=\"18\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p class=\"theconversation-article-title\">In 2019, during his first term, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/08\/21\/heres-why-trump-wants-to-buy-greenland.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a desire to buy Greenland<\/a>, which has been a part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/01\/19\/world\/europe\/trump-norway-greenland-nobel.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Denmark for some 300 years<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thearcticinstitute.org\/greenland-during-trump-2-0-america-poised-historic-arctic-territorial-expansion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Danes and Greenlanders<\/a> quickly rebuffed the offer at the time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"theconversation-article-body\">\n<p>During Trump\u2019s second term, those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/01\/14\/world\/europe\/trump-greenland-nato.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">offers have turned to threats<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social in late December 2024 that, for purposes of national security, <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/113698764270730405\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. control over Greenland was a necessity<\/a>. The president has continued to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2026\/01\/14\/trump-us-greenland-nato\/88175750007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">insist on the national security rationale<\/a> into January 2026. And he has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2025\/may\/04\/trump-greenland-denmark-military-force\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">refused to rule out the use of military force<\/a> to control Greenland.<\/p>\n<p>From my perspective as <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/steven-lamy\/\">an international relations scholar<\/a> focused on Europe, Trump\u2019s national security rationale doesn\u2019t make sense. Greenland, <a href=\"https:\/\/nato.usmission.gov\/about-nato\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">like the U.S.<\/a>, is a member of NATO, which provides <a href=\"https:\/\/www.act.nato.int\/about\/the-command\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a collective defense pact<\/a>, meaning member nations will respond to an attack on any alliance member. And because of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/01\/07\/world\/europe\/trump-greenland-denmark-us-defense-pact.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a 1951 defense agreement<\/a> between the U.S. and Denmark, the U.S. can already build military installations in Greenland to protect the region.<\/p>\n<p>Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 National Security Strategy<\/a>, which stresses control of the Western Hemisphere and keeping China out of the region, provides insight into Trump\u2019s thinking.<\/p>\n<h2>U.S. interests in Greenland<\/h2>\n<p>The United States has tried to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/articles\/greenland-united-states-seward-cold-war\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">acquire Greenland several times<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In 1867, <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.lse.ac.uk\/usappblog\/2019\/08\/30\/trumps-greenland-plan-is-the-rebirth-of-an-1867-american-dream\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Secretary of State William Seward<\/a> commissioned a survey of Greenland. Impressed with the abundance of natural resources on the island, he pushed to acquire Greenland and Iceland for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanactionforum.org\/research\/pricing-greenland-the-essence-of-the-deal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">US$5.5 million<\/a> \u2014 roughly $125 million today.<\/p>\n<p>But Congress was still <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/about\/powers-procedures\/treaties\/sumners-alaskan-project.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">concerned about the purchase of Alaska<\/a> that year, which Seward had engineered. It had seen Alaska as too cold and too distant from the rest of the U.S. to justify spending $7.2 million \u2014 roughly $164 million today \u2014 although Congress ultimately agreed to do it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/about\/powers-procedures\/treaties\/sumners-alaskan-project.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">There was not enough national support<\/a> for another frozen land.<\/p>\n<p>In 1910, the U.S. ambassador to Denmark proposed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/articles\/greenland-united-states-seward-cold-war\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a complex trade<\/a> involving Germany, Denmark and the United States. Denmark would give the U.S. Greenland, and the U.S. would give Denmark islands in the Philippines. Denmark would then give those islands to Germany, and Germany would return <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Schleswig-Holstein\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Schleswig-Holstein<\/a> \u2014 Germany\u2019s northernmost state \u2014 to Denmark.<\/p>\n<p>But the U.S. quickly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/07\/politics\/us-greenland-trump-denmark-history-hnk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dismissed the proposed trade<\/a> as too audacious.<\/p>\n<p>During World War II, Nazi Germany occupied Denmark, and the U.S. assumed the role of protector of both Greenland and Iceland, both of which belonged to Denmark at the time. The U.S. built <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thearcticinstitute.org\/knowledge-power-greenland-great-powers-lessons-second-world-war\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">airstrips, weather stations and radar and communications stations<\/a> \u2014 five on Greenland\u2019s east coast and nine on the west coast.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. used Greenland and Iceland as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jan\/07\/brief-history-of-us-military-bases-in-greenland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bases for bombers that attacked Germany<\/a> and German-occupied areas. Greenland had a high value for military strategists because of its location in the North Atlantic \u2014 to counter Nazi threats to Allied shipping lanes and protect transatlantic routes, and because it was a midpoint for refueling U.S. aircraft. Greenland\u2019s importance also rested on its deposits of cryolite, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mycg.uscg.mil\/News\/Article\/3292212\/the-long-blue-line-greenlandcoast-guards-arctic-combat-zone-of-world-war-ii-194\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">useful for making aluminum<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In 1946, the Truman administration offered to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2019\/08\/22\/753192368\/fact-check-did-harry-truman-really-try-to-buy-greenland-back-in-the-day\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">buy Greenland for $100 million<\/a>, as U.S. military leaders thought it would play <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/us-military-has-a-long-history-in-greenland-from-mining-during-wwii-to-a-nuclear-powered-army-base-built-into-the-ice-273355\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a critical role in the Cold War<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The secret U.S. project <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armyupress.army.mil\/Films\/The-Big-Picture\/big-picture-227\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Operation Blue Jay<\/a> at the beginning of the Cold War resulted in the construction of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Pituffik-Space-Base\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thule Air Base<\/a> in northwestern Greenland, which allowed U.S. bombers to be closer to the Soviet Union. Renamed Pituffik Space Base, today it provides a 24\/7 missile warning and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacecom.mil\/Newsroom\/News\/Article-Display\/Article\/4355606\/usspacecom-commander-highlights-strategic-importance-of-pituffik-space-base-dur\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">space surveillance facility<\/a> that is critical to NATO and U.S. security strategy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26403\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26403\" style=\"width: 980px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26403 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-in-story-a.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of the Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Triton traveling through ice near Greenland.\" width=\"980\" height=\"735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-in-story-a.jpg 980w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-in-story-a-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-in-story-a-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 980px) 100vw, 980px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26403\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Triton patrols the waters near Greenland. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At the end of World War II, Denmark recognized Greenland as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.diis.dk\/en\/research\/why-is-greenland-part-of-the-kingdom-of-denmark-a-short-history\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">one of its territories<\/a>. In 1953, Greenland gained constitutional rights and became a country within the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland was assigned self-rule in 1979, and by 2009 <a href=\"https:\/\/english.stm.dk\/the-prime-ministers-office\/the-unity-of-the-realm\/greenland\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">it became a self-governing country<\/a>, still within the Kingdom of Denmark, which includes Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.<\/p>\n<p>Denmark recognizes the government of Greenland as an equal partner and recently gave it a more significant role as the first voice for Denmark in <a href=\"https:\/\/arctic-council.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Arctic Council<\/a>, which promotes cooperation in the Arctic.<\/p>\n<h2>What the U.S. may want<\/h2>\n<p>The Trump administration\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2025 National Security Strategy<\/a> identifies three threats in the Western Hemisphere: migration, drugs and crimes, and China\u2019s increasing influence.<\/p>\n<p>Two of those threats are irrelevant when considering Greenland. Greenlandic people are not migrating to the U.S., and they are not drug traffickers. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instituteforenergyresearch.org\/international-issues\/greenland-land-of-enormous-mineral-wealth\/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22522217224&amp;gbraid=0AAAAADhYN4EPHKbe53Ud-NN2p4JJEzk3d&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiA7LzLBhAgEiwAjMWzCItblJ6tc3eOHeUqL2fhSBJSYtwuUyU_-oqaiHA3NyFeXF6m_dVcKBoCFowQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals<\/a>, including neodymium, dysprosium, graphite, copper and lithium.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thearcticinstitute.org\/dig-baby-dig-chinas-mineral-dominance-ripple-effects-arctic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">China seeks to establish mining interests in Greenland<\/a> and the Arctic as part of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thearcticinstitute.org\/china-polar-silk-road-long-game-failed-strategy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Polar Silk Road<\/a> initiative. China had offered to build an infrastructure for Greenland, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/analysis\/greenland-rare-earths-and-arctic-security\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">including improving the airport<\/a>, until Denmark stepped in and offered airport funding. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arctictoday.com\/chinese-linked-australian-mining-company-sues-greenland-for-billions-of-usd-over-lost-revenue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">China has worked with Australian companies<\/a> to secure mining opportunities on the island.<\/p>\n<p>Those rare earth minerals appeal to the European Union, too. The EU lists some 30 raw materials that are essential for their economies. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/worklife\/article\/20251104-the-story-behind-the-scramble-for-greenlands-rare-earths\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Twenty-five are in Greenland<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration has made it clear that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/01\/16\/europeans-befuddled-by-trumps-russian-rationale-for-greenland-00734955\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">controlling these minerals is a national security issue<\/a>, and the president wants to keep them away from China.<\/p>\n<p>Figures vary, but it is estimated that over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csis.org\/analysis\/what-chinas-ban-rare-earths-processing-technology-exports-means\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">60% of rare earth elements or minerals are currently mined in China<\/a>. China also refines some 90% of rare earths. This gives China tremendous leverage in trade talks. And it results in a dangerous vulnerability for the U.S. and other nation states seeking to modernize their economies. With few suppliers of these rare earth elements, the political and economic costs of securing them are high.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26402\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26402\" style=\"width: 1024px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26402 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/Nalunaq_Gold_Mine_looking_southwest_Greenland-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Aerial photo of the Nalunaq gold mine.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/Nalunaq_Gold_Mine_looking_southwest_Greenland-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/Nalunaq_Gold_Mine_looking_southwest_Greenland-500x375.jpg 500w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/Nalunaq_Gold_Mine_looking_southwest_Greenland-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/Nalunaq_Gold_Mine_looking_southwest_Greenland-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/Nalunaq_Gold_Mine_looking_southwest_Greenland-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26402\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Nalunaq Gold Mine was the first gold mine built in Greenland. (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons\/James St. John.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Greenland has only two operating mines. One is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.criticalmetalscorp.com\/projects\/project-tanbreez\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tan Breez project in southern Greenland<\/a>. It produces 17 metals, including terbium and neodymium, that are used in high-strength magnets used in many green technologies and in <a href=\"https:\/\/elements.visualcapitalist.com\/visualizing-how-rare-earths-power-u-s-defense\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">aircraft manufacturing, including for the F-35 fighter planes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Consider for a moment that Trump is not interested in owning Greenland.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, he is using this threatening position to secure promises from the Greenlandic government to make economic deals with the U.S. and not China. Thus, Trump\u2019s threats could be less about national security and much more about eliminating competition from China and securing wealth for U.S. interests.<\/p>\n<p>This form of coercive diplomacy threatens the political and economic development of not only Greenland but Europe. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/01\/08\/us\/politics\/trump-interview-power-morality.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">In recent interviews<\/a>, Trump has made it clear that he does not respect international law and the sovereignty of countries. His position, I believe, undermines the international order and removes the U.S. as a responsible leader of that framework established after World War II.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/273548\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/republishing-guidelines --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/profiles\/steven-lamy-1347510\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Steven Lamy<\/a>, Professor Emeritus of <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/poir\/\">Political Science and International Relations<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/spatial\/\">Spatial Sciences<\/a>, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/institutions\/usc-dornsife-college-of-letters-arts-and-sciences-2669\">USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>This article is republished from <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/trumps-stated-reasons-for-taking-greenland-are-wrong-but-the-tactics-fit-with-the-plan-to-limit-chinas-economic-interests-273548\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Articles\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/attempt-to-conquer-greenland-at-your-peril\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Attempt to conquer Greenland at your peril<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-finds-greenland-strategically-appealing\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Expert on Arctic politics explains Greenland\u2019s strategic appeal<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/how-trump-taunts-and-tariff-added-to-justin-trudeau-woes\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Trudeau taps out: How Trump\u2019s taunts and tariff threats added to domestic woes confronting Canada\u2019s long-standing PM<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump\u2019s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong \u2013 but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China\u2019s economic interests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":26401,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[87,71,85,108],"class_list":["post-26400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-expert-viewpoint","tag-history","tag-international-relations","tag-political-science"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Why Trump is really targeting Greenland<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Trump\u2019s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong \u2013 but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China\u2019s economic interests.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Trump\u2019s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong \u2013 but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China\u2019s economic interests.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"USC Dornsife News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uscdornsife\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-21T00:23:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-21T22:51:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1150\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Margaret Crable\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@uscdornsife\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@uscdornsife\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Margaret Crable\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/079941d34348eaa3a2f145191f66290c\"},\"headline\":\"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-21T00:23:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-21T22:51:34+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/\"},\"wordCount\":6,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"expert viewpoint\",\"history\",\"international relations\",\"political science\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Politics\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/\",\"name\":\"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-21T00:23:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-21T22:51:34+00:00\",\"description\":\"Trump\u2019s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong \u2013 but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China\u2019s economic interests.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1150,\"caption\":\"Photo of a group of people protesting.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/\",\"name\":\"USC Dornsife News\",\"description\":\"USC Dornsife news and events\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization\",\"name\":\"USC Dornsife News\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/01\/USC-Dornsife-Cardinal-Black-on-White-RGB.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/01\/USC-Dornsife-Cardinal-Black-on-White-RGB.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":330,\"caption\":\"USC Dornsife News\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uscdornsife\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/uscdornsife\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/uscdornsife\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/USCCollege\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/uscdornsife\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/079941d34348eaa3a2f145191f66290c\",\"name\":\"Margaret Crable\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6791ff163203ae7627b9daae41a5c65889c50dd161b0f2d259103ec9db9e64e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6791ff163203ae7627b9daae41a5c65889c50dd161b0f2d259103ec9db9e64e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Margaret Crable\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/author\/mcrable\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland","description":"Trump\u2019s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong \u2013 but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China\u2019s economic interests.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland","og_description":"Trump\u2019s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong \u2013 but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China\u2019s economic interests.","og_url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/","og_site_name":"USC Dornsife News","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uscdornsife","article_published_time":"2026-01-21T00:23:10+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-21T22:51:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1150,"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Margaret Crable","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@uscdornsife","twitter_site":"@uscdornsife","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/"},"author":{"name":"Margaret Crable","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/079941d34348eaa3a2f145191f66290c"},"headline":"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland","datePublished":"2026-01-21T00:23:10+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-21T22:51:34+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/"},"wordCount":6,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg","keywords":["expert viewpoint","history","international relations","political science"],"articleSection":["Politics"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/","name":"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg","datePublished":"2026-01-21T00:23:10+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-21T22:51:34+00:00","description":"Trump\u2019s stated reasons for taking Greenland are wrong \u2013 but the tactics fit with the plan to limit China\u2019s economic interests.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/01\/greenland-lamy-top.jpg","width":2000,"height":1150,"caption":"Photo of a group of people protesting."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/why-trump-is-really-targeting-greenland\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why Trump is really targeting Greenland"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/","name":"USC Dornsife News","description":"USC Dornsife news and events","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#organization","name":"USC Dornsife News","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/01\/USC-Dornsife-Cardinal-Black-on-White-RGB.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/01\/USC-Dornsife-Cardinal-Black-on-White-RGB.jpg","width":1000,"height":330,"caption":"USC Dornsife News"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uscdornsife","https:\/\/x.com\/uscdornsife","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/uscdornsife\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/USCCollege","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/uscdornsife"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/079941d34348eaa3a2f145191f66290c","name":"Margaret Crable","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6791ff163203ae7627b9daae41a5c65889c50dd161b0f2d259103ec9db9e64e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6791ff163203ae7627b9daae41a5c65889c50dd161b0f2d259103ec9db9e64e4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Margaret Crable"},"url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/author\/mcrable\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/52"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26400"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26420,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26400\/revisions\/26420"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}