The United States may soon have a consulate in Greenland for the first time in decades, as President Trump’s administration considers opening one amid increased interest in the region.
In a letter to Congress obtained by the Associated Press on Friday, the State Department explained that reestablishing a consulate in Nuuk is part of the Trump administration’s broader plan to increase the U.S. presence in the Arctic. According to the letter, the U.S. has a “strategic interest in enhancing political, economic, and commercial relationships across the Arctic region.”
The letter added that a diplomatic presence would let the U.S. “protect essential equities in Greenland while developing deeper relationships with Greenlandic officials and society” and called the consulate “a critical component of our efforts to increase U.S. presence in the Arctic and would serve as an effective platform to advance U.S. interests in Greenland.”
The interest in opening a consulate in Greenland comes after President Trump expressed interest in purchasing the autonomous region, an idea that was rejected by both Greenland itself and Denmark, of which Greenland remains a semi-autonomous territory.
Previously, the United States opened a consulate in Greenland in 1940 following the Nazi occupation of Denmark, but it closed in 1953. The new one would most likely open next year.
While the State Department already has a Greenlandic affairs officer working out of the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen, experts say establishing a larger presence in Greenland could be beneficial given its resources and geographical location.
