At a time when U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland has intensified again, Texas-based Greenland Energy unloaded drilling equipment in the Jameson Land area on the island’s east coast without obtaining the required permits.
Greenland’s Department of Industry and Mineral Resources announced that the company would receive a stern warning over the equipment brought ashore last month. Drilling operations cannot begin without the approval of Greenland’s authorities.
Company defends its oil estimate
Greenland Energy, which was established last year, acquired a majority stake in the project in exchange for financing the oil exploration venture. The company claims that up to $1 trillion worth of crude oil could lie beneath the Jameson Land area.
The department said the license holder would receive a “stern warning” because the equipment had been unloaded without the required government permits.
Trump’s statements on Greenland return to the spotlight
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and is under Denmark, a NATO member alongside the United States. In January 2025, Trump did not rule out using military force to take control of Greenland and said the United States needed the island for “national security purposes.”
Trump later softened the tone of those statements but described Greenland as “vital” to his proposed Golden Dome missile defense system. Days after residents reported that the drilling equipment had been brought ashore, he also shared an artificial intelligence-generated image overlooking a village in Greenland on his Truth Social account, writing, “Hello, Greenland.”
Greenland Energy denies a connection
Last month, Greenland Energy appointed U.S. Navy veteran Carol Craig to the project’s board of directors. The company also hired former television host Dr. Phil McGraw to present a documentary series about Arctic exploration.
The company rejected claims that its oil project was connected to plans to annex Greenland. Board Chairman Larry Swets acknowledged in June that a company representative had incorrectly told Greenland residents that permission to bring the equipment ashore had already been granted.
Swets said the excitement surrounding the project had caused confusion in the company’s communications. In a letter sent to shareholders on Thursday, Greenland Energy said talks with Greenland’s regulatory authorities had been constructive and that it was optimistic about making progress toward securing the approvals required for drilling.
