By: Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada 15/1/2026
The long-debated idea of the United States acquiring Greenland could come with an extraordinary price tag as much as $700 billion, according to estimates cited in a new NBC News report.
The figure, drawn from internal discussions involving scholars and former U.S. officials, reflects preliminary calculations of what it might cost Washington to purchase the vast Arctic territory from Denmark. While no formal negotiations are underway, the estimate highlights the immense financial and political hurdles surrounding the proposal.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is a semi-autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty. Though sparsely populated, it holds significant geopolitical and economic value, including rich deposits of rare earth minerals, oil and gas potential, and a strategic location in the Arctician area of growing interest amid rising global competition and climate change.
According to NBC News, U.S. officials have explored what a potential acquisition might entail, including long-term economic compensation, infrastructure investments, and security guarantees. The projected $700 billion cost would exceed half of the U.S. annual defense budget, underscoring how unprecedented such a deal would be in modern times.
Despite recurring interest from Washington most notably during former President Donald Trump’s administration the idea has been firmly rejected by both Danish and Greenlandic leaders. Officials in Copenhagen have repeatedly stated that Greenland is not for sale, while leaders in Nuuk emphasize the island’s right to self-determination and independence.
International observers also warn that a U.S. attempt to purchase Greenland could strain diplomatic relations within NATO and disrupt Arctic cooperation. Denmark is a longstanding U.S. ally, and Greenland already hosts a key American military installation, the Pituffik Space Base, which plays a critical role in missile defense and space surveillance.
Analysts note that the $700 billion estimate should not be viewed as a formal asking price but rather as a planning benchmark. Some academic valuations of Greenland’s natural resources and strategic importance place its theoretical worth even higher, though such figures remain speculative.
For now, the notion of buying Greenland remains more a geopolitical thought experiment than a realistic policy option. Still, the renewed attention underscores the Arctic’s growing importance in global affairs and the lengths major powers might consider to secure influence in the region.
As climate change opens new shipping routes and access to resources, Greenland’s strategic relevance is only expected to increase ensuring that discussions about its future will continue, even if outright purchase remains off the table.
