Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Trump-linked oil firm prepares Greenland drilling without approval
An American oil company called Greenland Energy is linked to US President Donald Trump.
Greenland is a huge, icy island that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but has its own government.
The company wants to look for oil under a place called Jameson Land.
Workers brought heavy equipment to the shore without asking permission first.
Greenland's government sent a strong warning that every step must be approved before it happens.
Greenland stopped giving out new oil permits in 2021 to protect nature, and the drilling area is protected by an international wetlands treaty.
The company thinks there could be a trillion dollars' worth of oil underground and plans to spend 60 million dollars to find out.
Greenland's leaders are in a tight spot: saying yes might hurt the environment, but saying no might give Trump a reason to push harder to take over the island.
Trump posted a picture of himself standing over a Greenland village, and his special envoy says Greenland could be pumping oil next year.
Greenland's government issued a 'strong warning' after Texas-based Greenland Energy brought drilling equipment ashore at Jameson Land without permission; all future logistical work must be cleared by the mineral resources authority first.
Greenland Energy, set up last year and linked to US President Donald Trump, claims up to $1 trillion of crude oil may lie beneath Jameson Land and plans to spend $60 million on exploratory drilling.
Greenland has issued no new oil licences since 2021 on environmental grounds, and the proposed drilling area is protected under the Ramsar Convention wetlands treaty.
Company chairman Larry Swets says the project is 'not related to American annexation,' though the firm admitted a June claim at a community meeting that it already had permission was false.
Trump posted an image of himself towering over a Greenlandic village on Truth Social, envoy Jeff Landry says Greenland could be 'pumping oil next year,' and a ship with 300 containers of equipment is due to leave Canada on 12 September.
- Who
- Texas-based oil company Greenland Energy, which is linked to US President Donald Trump, and the government of Greenland; UK firm 80 Mile holds the exploration rights.
- What
- Greenland Energy moved drilling equipment ashore at Jameson Land without government approval, prompting a 'strong warning' from Greenlandic authorities ahead of planned exploratory oil drilling.
- When
- Equipment was brought ashore in recent days around early August 2026; a ship carrying 300 containers is to leave Canada on 12 September, with drilling reportedly expected to start in October.
- Where
- Jameson Land (Nunap Qeqqa) on Greenland's eastern coast; Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
- Why
- The company claims up to $1 trillion of crude oil may lie beneath Jameson Land and plans to fund exploration in exchange for a majority stake, while Trump has renewed his push for greater US control over Greenland.
Greenland's government and environmental protection
Trump-linked oil interests
Drilling approval
Greenland's government and environmental protection
Greenland's government says no approval was granted to land the equipment and that all future logistical matters must be advised and approved by the mineral resources authority before they are carried out.
Trump-linked oil interests
Greenland Energy says recent high-level meetings with Greenlandic regulatory authorities have been 'constructive' and it is encouraged by progress toward the remaining approvals required for drilling.
Oil exploration vs. the environment
Greenland's government and environmental protection
Greenland stopped issuing new oil licences in 2021 on environmental grounds, and the proposed drilling area is protected under the Ramsar Convention.
Trump-linked oil interests
The company claims up to $1 trillion of crude may lie beneath Jameson Land and plans to spend $60 million drilling wells to find out.
US control over Greenland
Greenland's government and environmental protection
Trump has renewed threats to claim the Arctic territory, pushed for greater US control, raised the possibility of military force, and calls controlling Greenland 'vital' for his Golden Dome missile defence plan.
Trump-linked oil interests
Greenland Energy chair Larry Swets says the oil project is 'not related to American annexation,' and the company says it is following the approval process.
- Company
- Greenland Energy — Texas-based, set up last year
- Political link
- Connected to US President Donald Trump and his circle
- Project location
- Jameson Land (Nunap Qeqqa), eastern Greenland
- Claimed oil value
- Up to $1 trillion of crude beneath Jameson Land
- Planned investment
- $60 million; one exploratory well to start
- Exploration rights
- Held by UK firm 80 Mile; Greenland Energy to take a majority stake
- Greenland oil policy
- No new oil licences since 2021; area under Ramsar Convention protection
- Approval status
- No permission granted; application still under processing
Sources
Trump-linked US firm prepares to drill in Greenland without permission, govt warns
Greenland Warns Trump-Linked Oil Firm Over Planned Drilling
Why is Greenland warning a Trump-linked oil company against its secret drilling plans?
