Recently, Trump once again raised a geopolitical issue that seemed to be a thing of the past: who really owns Greenland. He publicly declared his intention to annex the Arctic island, citing national security reasons and economic opportunities. But here’s the interesting part: Greenland has been under Danish sovereignty for three centuries, and its autonomous government firmly rejects any proposed commercial operation from Washington.

The history of why Greenland belongs to Denmark goes back quite a ways. Scandinavian settlers arrived at the end of the 10th century, although those early settlements disappeared around the 15th century. The definitive link was established in 1721 when missionary Hans Egede led an expedition and new Danish settlers settled near what is now Nuuk, the capital. From that moment, the island became part of the European kingdom.

Administration evolved significantly during the 20th century. In 1953, Copenhagen officially incorporated the territory and granted Danish citizenship to its inhabitants. Then, in 1979, a referendum changed the game by establishing a local government that manages most internal affairs, while the central government retains control over security and defense. A law in 2009 further expanded Nuuk’s powers and even enabled the possibility of independence through bilateral negotiations.

Now, understanding who owns Greenland also requires considering its current reality. The world’s largest island has just 56,000 inhabitants, mostly Inuit. 80% is covered by ice, and the population is concentrated on the southwest coast. The economy depends on fishing and Danish subsidies, which account for one-fifth of the local GDP. But here’s the crucial part: melting ice due to climate change has opened access to strategic resources such as rare earths, iron, and uranium.

Washington’s strategy responds to competition with China and Russia, as well as interest in new Arctic routes. Trump even mentioned not ruling out military force. What’s curious is that this is not new. Washington already considered purchasing it in 1867 alongside Alaska. During World War II, U.S. forces occupied the area after Nazi invasion of Denmark. In 1946, Secretary of State James Byrnes offered $100 million in gold bars to the Danish ambassador, but the proposal was rejected. Since 1951, there has been an agreement regulating U.S. military presence, including the Pituffik Space Base.

Diplomatic rejection has been clear. Denmark and Greenland stated that the territory “is not for sale.” Danish Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen recognizes Greenland’s right to self-determination but rules out selling it to any power. Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede was more direct, urging to “break the chains of colonialism” and rejecting annexation. Kuupik V. Kleist, former local premier, told CNN that he sees “nothing in the future that paves the way for a sale.” Mark Jacobsen from the Royal Danish Defense School explained to BBC Mundo that regional perception considers Trump’s view simply outdated. The question of who owns Greenland seems already settled on the political ground, although Washington continues to insist.