Greenland parliament unanimously backs deep-sea mining ban until end of 2029, a day after Trump's remarks

A unanimous vote a day after Trump's remarks

The parliament of Greenland unanimously adopted a resolution on Thursday, 15 October 2026, requiring the government to draft a ban on mining and exploration in deep waters, including the extraction of minerals from the seabed. The vote followed a Truth Social post by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 14 October, in which he said wide-scale searches for oil and gas were being prepared on the island, without giving details. It remains unclear whether Trump also meant extracting minerals from the seabed, since his post did not mention deep-sea mining. Greenlandic lawmakers framed the resolution as protection for a valuable marine environment and for the welfare of fish stocks. Fishing is the backbone of the island's economy, and hunting is crucial for subsistence in many communities.

Security deal and limits on extraction

In September, the United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a security agreement in New York, a deal negotiated by Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's head of government Jens-Frederik Nielsen. It was meant to ease tensions stemming from earlier Washington threats to take control of the island. The agreement accepts the construction of two military bases but does not cover resource extraction. Resource rights were left outside the deal, which covers security arrangements only. Denmark's foreign ministry said the document gives the United States no special privileges, and that mining falls under Greenlandic law.

Little extraction so far

Mineral resources have not been extracted on a large scale, because of harsh Arctic conditions and a lack of infrastructure, roads and ports. Small gold and ruby mines exist. The Greenland government has not issued new licences since 2021. The US company Greenland Energy holds a permit to extract oil on the east coast but has not begun drilling, because final approvals from Greenlandic authorities are still missing. The project is therefore waiting on approvals that the Greenlandic authorities have not yet issued. No industrial-scale oil or gas drilling has been carried out on the island.

Environmental concerns and the timetable

The WWF welcomed the resolution as an important step in the right direction, while noting that scientific knowledge about the environmental effects of deep-sea mining remains relatively limited. Residents fear the consequences of industrialising the deep sea. Some see the untapped minerals as a possible springboard toward independence, which a majority of the island's 57,000 residents reportedly want. The memorandum on deep-sea mining runs until the end of 2029, and the government can extend it in two-year periods, so the timetable does not touch the oil and gas licences frozen since 2021. The law itself is due to be passed in the first half of 2027, when parliament meets for its spring session.