Updated 5m ago · World

Trump Says Massive Greenland Oil and Gas Exploration Will Begin

President Trump said Wednesday that large-scale oil, gas and mineral exploration is getting ready to begin in Greenland. He did not say who would do it or when.

Trump cited unnamed experts who say Greenland's accessible oil exceeds almost anywhere.
2021: Greenland stopped issuing new oil and gas exploration licenses.
80% of the island is covered in ice, complicating extraction.
Commercially recoverable oil and gas reserves have not been established.

Why it matters: Trump's post follows a security agreement the US, Denmark and Greenland signed last month. That deal mentions minerals cooperation but gives no specifics and does not mention oil or gas.

Greenland, not Washington, controls domestic affairs including mineral resources.
The deal allows new US bases at Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig.

How 41 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 41 sources

41 sources · 46 articles · 34% Center coverage

Where they split: Coverage divides over whether to stress the strategic and resource upside Trump describes or the legal, physical and economic obstacles to extraction.

Center14 sources

Left coverage, 13 sources: The left frames the post as an unsupported claim that follows Trump's past threats toward Greenland and ignores costly extraction conditions.

CNN16hTrump says ‘massive’ oil and gas drilling is about to begin in Greenland CBS News17hTrump says "massive" oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland is "getting ready to begin"Raw Story12mTrump-linked oil firm’s stock rockets after his midnight Greenland drilling post: report The Independent9hTrump says ‘massive’ gas exploration set to begin in ‘our’ Greenland Al Jazeera15hTrump says oil, gas and mineral exploration to begin in Greenland Los Angeles Times8hTrump says oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland is set to begin. It's not that simple Mediaite7hTop Official Shoots Down Trump’s Claim ‘Massive’ Oil and Gas Drilling Beginning Soon in ...MeidasTouch2dCommunity Note Freezes Trump’s Greenland Claim MSNBC5hTrump says ‘massive’ oil and gas exploration to begin in Greenland Political Wire15hTrump Announces Oil and Gas Exploration in Greenland Talking Points Memo2hTrump Is Almost Certainly Referring to This Dr Phil Project With His Claims of ‘Oil, Gas and Mineral The Boston Globe7hTrump touts oil and gas exploration in Greenland with little progress The New Republic7hGreenland Reveals Trump Is Lying Through His Teeth About Oil and Gas

Right coverage, 14 sources: The right frames the announcement as a resource and national security win built on last month's Greenland agreement.

OutKick16hTrump announces massive oil, gas and mineral exploration plans in Greenland, touts national security benefits New York Post16hTrump says 'massive' oil, gas, mineral exploration to begin in Greenland Just the News23hTrump touts Greenland natural resource, including oil, and defense potential The Epoch Times23hTrump Says Massive Energy, Mineral Exploration Ready to Start in Greenland BizPac Review5hTrump unveils sweeping Greenland oil, gas and mineral exploration plans — touts national security payoff Breitbart News12hDrill Baby Drill: Trump Says 'Massive' Oil, Gas and Mineral Exploration in Greenland Good to Go Citizen Free Press6hTrump issues statement on Greenland.Human Events2hTrump announces plans for oil, gas, and mineral exploration in Greenland Legal Insurrection8hTrump: ‘Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration’ Ready to Go in Greenland NTD14hTrump Says 'Massive' Oil, Gas and Mineral Exploration to Begin in Greenland RSBNetwork11hPresident Trump announces massive oil and mineral exploration in Greenland The Washington Times7hTrump says oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland is set to begin. It's not that simple Washington Examiner8hTrump hails 'massive' Greenland oil and mineral exploration ZeroHedge11hTrump Announces "Massive" Greenland Oil Exploration Plans

What’s next: The White House has not provided details on when or how exploration would begin.

Any drilling under existing licenses would still need further Greenlandic government approval.
Will Greenland's government lift or modify its 2021 halt on new oil and gas licenses?
Which companies, if any, are prepared to fund exploration given high extraction costs?
How do Danish and Greenlandic officials respond to Trump's claim?