These days, Jeff Landry, the US special envoy to Greenland, and other prominent names from the Trump administration are visiting the Future Greenland trade fair in Nuuk, where Greenland's coveted raw materials will be an inevitable part of the agenda.
Now it turns out that one of the richest people in the US has simultaneously invested in a controversial oil project in Greenland.
This is the American multi-billionaire Kenneth Griffin, who is number 35 on Forbes' list of the world's richest - with an estimated fortune of over 325 billion kroner - and has bought 9.3 percent of Greenland Energy Corporation through his hedge fund Citadel.
This is evident from reports to the US financial supervision, which the investigative media Danwatch has reviewed.
Expecting more American influence
Greenland Energy is already planning to establish oil exploration in East Greenland in October this year - and the American billionaire's recent entry into the ownership circle should be seen as a signal that the financial markets expect more American influence in the Greenlandic subsoil.
This is the assessment of Anne Merrild, professor at Aalborg University and former head of the Greenland Research Center for Arctic Oil & Gas:
"A well-capitalized hedge fund does not need quick profits. Therefore, I assess that the investment is strategic and is based on an expectation of greater American influence in Greenland".
Donald Trump has linked Greenland to US security and energy interests countless times and put pressure on Denmark - most recently by sending his special envoy, Jeff Landry, on an unannounced visit to Greenland in connection with the business fair in Nuuk.
Researcher: Sends signal of long-term interests in Greenland
Jakob Dreyer, postdoc and researcher in international politics at the University of Copenhagen, also believes that Kenneth Griffin's investment should be seen in the context of Trump's great interest in Greenland:
"Citadel is one of the world's largest financial players. When they buy in, it sends a signal that the US has long-term interests in Greenland".
Danwatch has previously reported that the CEO of Greenland Energy, Robert Price, was allowed to open the stock exchange in New York in April, where he announced that there was also a concrete timetable for the oil project in East Greenland. Incidentally, Price is also on the guest list at the current business fair in Nuuk.
Greenland Energy's declared oil adventure in Greenland is controversial because the American company has found a way around a Greenlandic ban on the granting of new oil permits. Greenland Energy has thus acquired three oil licenses issued before the ban through acquisitions of companies.
