Denmark but it was closed in 1953.
In a letter sent to Congress, and seen by the Associated Press, the State Department says that the US has a
“strategic interest in enhancing political, economic and commercial relationships across the Arctic region”.
It said a permanent US presence would allow it to “protect essential equities in Greenland while developing
deeper relationships with Greenlandic officials and society”, and said the consulate would be “a critical
component of our efforts to increase US presence in the Arctic and would serve as an effective platform to
advance US interests in Greenland”. The new mission would open next year with a staff of seven.
Mr Trump reacted with fury after his suggestion of buying Greenland was shot down. He stunned Denmark
by saying he was pulling out of a planned state visit as a result, complaining that the prime minister’s
response was not sufficiently respectful - a surprising claim given the president’s regular verbal broadsides
against allies.
He told reporters: ”I thought the prime minister's statement ... was nasty. It was not a nice way of doing it.
She could have just said 'no, we'd rather not do it' ... they can't say 'how absurd’."
Greenland would be a valuable strategic acquisition for the United States, particularly with regard to fears of
Russian expansion into the Arctic region. In 1991 it was revealed that Harry S Truman, US president
between 1945 and 1953, had secretly offered to buy Greenland, although he too was rebuffed.