Trump says “massive” oil, gas and mineral exploration in Greenland is “getting ready to begin”

Updated on: October 14, 2026 / 1:33 AM EDT / CBS News

President Trump said Wednesday that "massive" oil, gas and mineral exploration is preparing to begin in Greenland.

In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump said "Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland," but did not give more details.

The president added that "there are Experts that are saying that the amount of easily available Oil is far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the World."

Mr. Trump also touted Greenland's role in the defense of the United States in Europe, saying that "any future attack" on the U.S. would have to come across the semi-autonomous island, "where our Defense will routinely knock down drones, missiles, or any other form of weapon not yet conceived."

"It gives us time, location, and sightline, like nowhere else in the World!" Mr. Trump added.

The announcement comes more than four weeks after the U.S., Greenland and Denmark, which oversees the territory, signed a new security agreement to bolster American military and security presence on the island.

That agreement, which gives the U.S. broad access to…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/