Licensed to drill? How a Trump-linked Texas oil company is elbowing its way into Greenland
Trump-Linked Oil Firm Eyes Greenland Drilling
Licensed to drill How a Trump - On June 10, Robert Price stood before locals in Ittoqqortoormiit, a remote Greenland community. The elderly American, representing Greenland Energy, unveiled plans for an oil exploration project supported by Donald Trump's associates. Speaking through an interpreter, Price declared: "So, we have a project to drill for oil here." The company intends to prove substantial crude reserves exist by shipping three hundred containers of drilling equipment to the Arctic territory.
Footage from the gathering shows Price explaining their position: "We have the permit to put the equipment on the land." He noted that drilling authorization applications are pending. Yet Greenland's resources ministry disputed this claim, confirming there were "no actually active permissions for any exploration activity or permissions for preparations for these activities."
Political Ambitions Meet Arctic Opportunity
This disagreement creates potential friction between Greenland Energy's Trump-connected backers and local authorities. Trump's allies are using the possibility of finding American oil in Greenland to bolster arguments for a US acquisition. Jeff Landry, Louisiana's conservative governor and Trump's special envoy to Greenland, returned from a May visit to make sweeping statements on Fox News: "We need a deal. Greenland needs a deal. We could be – Greenland could be – exporting 2m barrels of oil a day right now."
Landry, whose mission involves "making Greenland a part of the US," added: "We could have those barrels on production within 10 months or so." Greenland Energy remains the only company currently preparing drilling operations in the territory. Despite lacking confirmed authorization, the firm has secured an Arctic-capable vessel to transport equipment 4,000 kilometers through frozen waters toward Greenland's eastern coast.
Historical Context and Environmental Concerns
Price, an experienced energy sector professional serving as the company's spokesperson, indicated the ship would depart on September 12, with drilling operations beginning in October. Halliburton, the Houston-based contractor formerly led by Republican vice-president Dick Cheney, will oversee logistical operations.
Since Trump publicly voiced his ambitions regarding Greenland, American commercial interests have established themselves across the territory's vast landscapes. Projects span rare-earth mineral extraction, hydroelectric generation, and bottling premium spring water. Greenlanders have watched with concern as Trump has utilized American military capabilities and considered extending such power to the Danish territory.
"We do need Greenland, absolutely," Trump declared the day after deploying special forces to capture Venezuela's leader. He cited oil as justification for American authority over Venezuela, where the US has since collected approximately $8 billion in revenues with minimal supervision.
At this week's NATO summit in Turkey, Trump reiterated his demand for American control of Greenland from Denmark. Avaaraq Olsen, mayor of the region encompassing the capital Nuuk and extending eastward across Jameson Land, expressed deep concern. She stated she was "so afraid" that American oil discoveries could coincide with Trump's territorial plans.
"We are like the most peaceful place on Earth," Olsen explained. "And we have always lived in peace and harmony. And suddenly there is all these Americans trying to take over."
The Drilling Proposal Takes Shape
Greenland halted oil exploration licensing in 2021 following five decades of unsuccessful drilling efforts. A minister at the time emphasized that "the environmental consequences of oil exploration and extraction are too great." Nevertheless, several licenses remained valid, including those covering portions of Jameson Land—a region geographically closer to London than to Washington.
These licenses belong to 80 Mile, a UK-registered enterprise. Greenland Energy, established last year and traded on New York's Nasdaq exchange, intends to utilize them by investing $60 million to drill two wells in exchange for controlling the majority of the project. Price has asserted that crude valued at $1 trillion (£750 billion) may rest beneath Jameson Land.
"I believe it's there," Price told the Ittoqqortoormiit audience during their meeting. "The scientists believe that it's there. But until we drill these wells, we don't know." The proposed drilling site falls within an area safeguarded by t