Senate Hearing Probes U.S. Acquisition of Greenland: Security, Mining and Consent

At a recent U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing, senators and witnesses discussed potential benefits and obstacles if the United States sought to acquire Greenland, focusing on security obligations, economic prospects and the requirement of Danish and Greenlandic consent.

Senator Cantwell said the proposal would face two immediate hurdles: Denmark’s agreement and a Greenlandic vote. "If The United States were to go forward with attempting to acquire Greenland, it would likely require the active agreement of Denmark and also the vote of the people of Greenland that this was a mutually beneficial step," she said.

The hearing centered on three themes raised by witnesses: Denmark’s security responsibilities in the Arctic; potential economic gains for Greenlanders from U.S. investment in mineral development; and a procedural path forward that would include a scientific survey and political consent.

Mister Gray,…