Experts warn US Arctic woes won’t be solved by seizing Greenland

Analysts say the United States’ chronic underinvestment in its existing Arctic infrastructure makes the idea of acquiring Greenland irrelevant.

President Donald Trump’s repeated calls to purchase Greenland have highlighted the Arctic’s growing geopolitical importance, but experts contend that the United States’ real challenge lies in revitalizing its aging Arctic presence. Kenneth Rosen notes that the US has failed to maintain facilities in Alaska, where most World War II-era bases are now abandoned, leaving only a few active Coast Guard sites. Climate-driven ice melt is opening new shipping lanes and resource opportunities, prompting Russia to rebuild its Arctic infrastructure, while the US relies on a single heavy icebreaker, the Polar Star.

Although the Trump administration allocated billions for new Coast Guard icebreakers and a deep-water port at Nome, the nation still trails Russia’s fleet of 42 icebreakers. Existing defense agreements already grant the US broad military access to Greenland, making acquisition unnecessary, and critics say Washington must also partner with Indigenous peoples to improve logistics and emergency response in the region.