Greenland Rejects US Company's Activities Amid Annexation Issue

The Greenland government has issued a “stern warning” to an oil company linked to US President Donald Trump after their drilling equipment was brought into the territory without the necessary government permits, according to British media. The Telegraph reported on Sunday that Greenland’s Department of Industry and Minerals stated a number of equipment pieces were brought to the island’s east coast last month for a planned oil exploration drilling. However, the company does not yet have the required permits to carry out the activities. “A stern warning will be conveyed” to the licence holder, the department said. The project is funded by Greenland Energy, a Texas-based company founded last year. The company estimates the Jameson Land area holds crude oil worth up to 1 trillion US dollars. Greenland Energy also acquired a majority stake in the exploration project in return for funding. However, drilling cannot proceed without the approval of Greenland’s authorities. The controversy arises amid renewed American interest in Greenland. A few days after residents reported drilling equipment being brought ashore, Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image on his Truth Social platform showing himself overlooking a village in Greenland with the caption “Hello, Greenland!” Trump drew international condemnation in January 2025 after expressing his intention to take over Greenland by military force. At the time, he said the US needed the island “for national security purposes.” However, Trump later softened his statement, but called Greenland “vital” for his proposed Golden Dome missile defence system. Meanwhile, Greenland Energy has denied any connection between the oil project and plans to annex Greenland. In June, Greenland Energy leader Larry Swets acknowledged that a company representative had mistakenly informed Greenland residents that a permit to bring equipment ashore had been granted. “Our enthusiasm for the project led us to communicate in a way that caused confusion,” Swets said. In a letter to shareholders on Thursday, Greenland Energy said talks with Greenland’s regulators were “constructive”. The company stated it remains optimistic about the progress of the process to obtain the necessary approvals to conduct drilling.