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Washington: US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that oil, gas and mineral exploration was preparing to begin in Greenland, and hailed the Arctic island\u2019s position for US and European security.<\/p>\n
Washington signed a security deal with the leaders of Greenland and Denmark after Trump threatened to take Copenhagen\u2019s strategically important Arctic Circle territory by force.<\/p>\n
Greenland, which lies on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States, represents a highly strategic location for Trump\u2019s desired \u201cGolden Dome\u201d defense shield.<\/p>\n
It also has untapped rare earth deposits and could be a critical player as melting polar ice opens up new shipping routes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMassive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland!\u201d Trump said in a post on Truth Social.<\/p>\n
Citing experts, Trump said \u201cthe amount of easily available Oil is far greater than that of almost… anywhere in the World.\u201d<\/p>\n
He did not give details of prospective American involvement.<\/p>\n
In August, media reports of a US oil company\u2019s preparatory operations in a remote region of eastern Greenland left locals and authorities on the island uneasy.<\/p>\n
In the same message on Truth Social, Trump hailed Greenland\u2019s position as \u201csecond to none\u201d for US and European security.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny future attack on the United States will have to come across Greenland, where our Defense will routinely knock down drones, missiles, or any other form of weapon not yet even conceived,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives us time, location, and sightline, like nowhere else in the World!\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Trump signed a security deal with the leaders of Greenland and Denmark in September.<\/p>\n
Under the 10-page pact, the US will build two military bases in southern and eastern Greenland.<\/p>\n
These will be established in Narsarsuaq in the south of the island and Mestersvig in the east, in addition to the Pituffik base it already operates in the north.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n