Greenland’s strategic value to the U.S. has become a focal point for Republican leaders like Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who argue that securing control over the territory is critical for and . The island’s location in the Arctic places it at the crossroads of emerging global shipping routes and military chokepoints, making it a linchpin in America’s defense strategy.
Greenland hosts (formerly Thule Air Base), a key U.S. installation for missile defense and space surveillance. Its position in the (Greenland-Iceland-UK) allows the U.S. to monitor Russian submarine activity and naval movements in the North Atlantic and Arctic, which have surged in recent years. With Russia reactivating Soviet-era Arctic bases and China expanding its “Polar Silk Road” investments, Republicans stress that Greenland’s security architecture cannot be left vulnerable to exploitation by hostile powers.
Beyond defense, Greenland holds vast untapped deposits of , lithium, and graphite—materials essential for modern technology, electric vehicles, and military hardware. China currently dominates global production of these resources, and U.S. control over Greenland would reduce reliance on adversarial nations while securing supply chains. Melting Arctic ice is also opening shorter shipping routes between Asia and Europe, positioning Greenland as a future hub for maritime traffic that the U.S. aims to oversee.
House Republicans, including Rep. Luna, have introduced the to authorize negotiations for its acquisition. They argue that Greenland’s semi-autonomous status under Denmark creates instability, and U.S. sovereignty would prevent a “security vacuum” as Greenland moves toward independence. Critics in Denmark and Greenland have rejected the idea, but GOP leaders insist a deal would benefit both nations by shifting defense costs to the U.S. and countering Russian/Chinese influence.
From a conservative viewpoint, securing Greenland is framed as a . The Trump administration’s renewed focus on the Arctic—reopening consulates, deploying officials, and rallying congressional support—reflects a commitment to assertive diplomacy. As Rep. Luna and allies emphasize, failure to act risks ceding critical ground to China and Russia in a region increasingly vital to economic and military dominance.
