"President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark fits into a long, little-known pattern in U.S. history. From quiet discussions after the Civil War to a $100 million offer in the wake of World War II, American leaders have repeatedly seen Greenland as a strategic prize. Here's a look: 1867-1868: Early US interest after the Alaska purchase After the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia, officials under Secretary of State William Seward discussed acquiring Greenland as part of a broader push into the Arctic."
"1946: Formal post-World War II purchase offer At the outset of the Cold War, President Harry Truman's administration formally offered Denmark $100 million in gold to buy Greenland, citing its strategic importance. During World War II, a U.S.-built airfield on the island had served as a major refueling point for military planes en route to Europe. Denmark rejected Truman's offer, though the U.S. retained military access. That presence continues today at the remote Pituffik Space Base, the U.S. Department of Defense's northernmost installation."
U.S. interest in Greenland spans more than a century, with recurring strategic calculations. Following the 1867 Alaska purchase, Secretary of State William Seward and other officials discussed acquiring Greenland for its natural resources, including coal, but Congress declined further Arctic expansion. In 1910 diplomats under President Taft proposed a complex land-exchange that Denmark rejected. At the start of the Cold War in 1946, President Truman's administration offered Denmark $100 million in gold to purchase Greenland; Denmark refused, yet allowed continued U.S. military access. The U.S. military presence remains today at the remote Pituffik Space Base.
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