When President Donald Trump proposed that the United States purchase Greenland in 2019, the idea was met with ridicule from the media and establishment politicians. The New York Times quoted the Danish prime minister as calling the idea “absurd.”

But history is full of American leaders who saw strategic opportunities before the political class caught up. Trump’s instinct was correct: Greenland is a critical strategic asset that America needs now more than ever.

The History of U.S. Interest in Greenland

Trump was far from the first American leader to recognize Greenland’s strategic importance. Secretary of State William Seward proposed acquiring Greenland and Iceland as early as 1868. During World War II, when Denmark fell to Nazi Germany, the U.S. quickly established military bases on Greenland to prevent its use by the Axis — though Germany did manage to land and operate four weather stations on Greenland. In 1946, President Harry Truman formally offered Denmark $100 million for Greenland, recognizing its value as a Cold War asset.

Today, Greenland’s strategic importance has only increased. As Arctic trade routes become more viable due to changing climate patterns, Greenland sits at the crossroads of emerging maritime corridors between North America, Europe, and Asia.