Annexing Greenland could cost US more than $700B
Figure exceeds half of Pentagon’s budget, Trump says US will have territory 'one way or another,' despite criticism
An aerial view shows Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, with its colorful houses surrounded by snowy hills on January 13, 2026. As the country's political, cultural, and economic center, Nuuk reflects the blend of modern life and Arctic nature that defines Greenland.
ISTANBUL
Taking Greenland could cost more than $700 billion for US President Donald Trump and his administration, said three sources, according to NBC News.
The amount corresponds to more than half of the Defense Department’s annual budget, but despite the criticism, Trump has shown a determination in his decision, saying the US will have the 800,000 square-mile island “one way or another,” NBC News reported on Wednesday.
Trump's desire to "own" the land comes from a concern that residents could seek independence. Some experts and former US officials caution that if Greenland residents have their way, the island’s coastline might come under the control of Russia or China.
"Greenland does not want to be owned by, governed by or part of the US," Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said following her arrival Tuesday in Washington to meet with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The area hosts a small US military presence at the Pituffik Space Base and has historically been open to hosting additional military assets or negotiations about its valuable resources, such as rare earth minerals.
Recently, however, Trump’s rhetoric has shifted significantly, and his statements are now being taken more seriously within his administration and by US allies.
A less expensive approach could involve a deal where Washington provides financial aid in exchange for maintaining a security presence.
But Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire for the US to have greater control over the land, likening it to owning property rather than leasing it.
