Former CIA Operative Says He Knows the “Real Reason” Trump Wants Greenland
On January 19, 2026, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he might impose a 10 percent tariff on the United Kingdom and seven other European countries if they try to interfere with his plan to take control of Greenland — a large, semi-autonomous territory of Denmark located northeast of Canada.
Greenland has been part of Denmark for hundreds of years, but Trump argues that the United States should own the island. He first brought up the idea of buying Greenland during his first term in office, saying the island was vital for U.S. national security. According to NBC News, Trump said, “We need Greenland for national security, and that includes Europe. We need it for national security, right now.”
Greenland’s location makes it strategically important to the United States. The island plays a key role in the U.S. ballistic missile defense system, and a major U.S. military base is already stationed there.
In December 2025, Trump appointed Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, as a special envoy to Greenland. According to Sky News, Landry was chosen to “lead the charge” in promoting the idea of Greenland becoming part of the United States.
Now, a former CIA covert intelligence officer believes he knows the true motive behind Trump’s focus on Greenland — and it goes beyond the reasons the public has heard.
Andrew Bustamante, a former U.S. Air Force officer and CIA operative, says the president’s interest in Greenland is about more than just defense or diplomacy. According to Bustamante, the United States wants to secure dominance in the Arctic, and Greenland plays a crucial role in that strategy.
“American dominance in the Arctic is critical to American primacy,” Bustamante said, and that, he believes, explains Trump’s intense focus on Greenland.