OPINION
This is a matter of national defense, global strategy, and long-term geopolitical dominance.
For far too long, American policymakers have overlooked a strategic opportunity that would significantly bolster our national security, strengthen our military positioning against global adversaries, and reinforce American energy independence: the acquisition of Greenland.
Since the advent of the Cold War, President Donald J. Trump has been our first world leader to recognize the tactical advantage to be gained in Greenland over the growing Russian menace. As the Arctic region becomes a new theater of military competition, Russia has aggressively expanded its military footprint, reopening Soviet-era bases and deploying new hypersonic missile systems capable of reaching the U.S. mainland in minutes.
This is not a hypothetical threat; it is a clear and present danger.
Greenland's geographic positioning makes it an indispensable asset for our military. The island could serve as a forward operating base for U.S. submarines, facilitating rapid deployment and enhancing our ability to track Russian submarine movements in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
In the event of conflict, control of Greenland would provide us with unmatched surveillance capabilities over Russia's northern fleet and its nuclear-armed submarines. Much like our bases in Alaska serve as critical assets for monitoring and countering Russian activity in the Pacific, Greenland would effectively complete the Arctic perimeter, securing American interests and those of our NATO allies.
Beyond its military advantages, Greenland is a gold mine of natural resources essential to America's strategic interests.
Under President Trump, we are once again pursuing an energy dominance policy that prioritizes American self-sufficiency and independence from adversarial nations. The acquisition of Greenland would be a monumental step in fulfilling that vision.
Greenland is rich in rare earth elements — critical components for advanced electronics, military hardware, and missile guidance systems. Currently, China controls the overwhelming majority of the world's rare earth mineral production, posing a dire risk to our supply chains.
In acquiring Greenland, the United States would significantly reduce our dependency on China and ensure that these critical materials remain under American control. Moreover, Greenland holds vast reserves of uranium, iron, gold, oil, and gas.
We now find ourselves able to recover from a failed Biden administration's suffocation of throttled domestic energy production that led to skyrocketing fuel costs and increased reliance on foreign adversaries; Greenland presents an opportunity to reassert American energy dominance. Controlling these resources would allow us to strengthen our industrial base, fuel our military, and expand our economic leverage on the global stage.
Skeptics may scoff at the idea of acquiring Greenland, but history is on our side. When Secretary of State William H. Seward orchestrated the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867, critics derided it as "Seward's Folly."
Today, Alaska is a cornerstone of America's national security infrastructure. It provides critical military bases, houses vital natural resources, and serves as a strategic buffer against Russian aggression. Greenland offers similar — if not greater — strategic advantages.
Its acquisition would extend America's defensive reach, cement our position in the Arctic, and ensure that vital resources remain in friendly hands. Far from being a folly, securing Greenland would be one of the most consequential strategic moves in American history.
Acquiring Greenland is not just an option — it is imperative.
From a national security standpoint, it would allow the United States to counter Russian expansionism, project power across the Arctic, and solidify our intelligence and military advantages. Economically, it would provide us with an abundance of strategic resources, enhancing our energy independence, and reducing our reliance on hostile foreign actors.
President Trump understood this when he floated the idea of purchasing Greenland.
Predictably, the media dismissed it out of hand. But true leadership requires vision — the ability to see past the immediate political noise and recognize long-term strategic opportunities.
Now, as America faces unprecedented global challenges, we must act decisively. The acquisition of Greenland would be a game-changer for our national security and economic future.
It's time for America to think big, act boldly, and secure Greenland before our adversaries beat us to it.
Rob Burgess is a national Republican strategist, and Chief Executive Officer at Connector, Inc. — a boutique government relations and political affairs firm with offices in Washington, D.C., and Dallas, Texas. You can follow him on X at @rkburgess.
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