Top WH official confirms Trump wants to buy Greenland — here's why it is strategically savvy

Larry Kudlow, the top White House economic adviser, confirmed Sunday that President Donald Trump is exploring the possibility of purchasing Greenland.

During an interview with "Fox News Sunday" with guest host Dana Perino, Kudlow explained that Trump's interest in the massive arctic island stems from the strategic value Greenland would provide for U.S. national security and economic interests.

"Look, it's an interesting story. It's developing. We're looking at it. We don't know," Kudlow said.

"Denmark owns Greenland. Denmark is an ally. Greenland is a strategic place up there and they've got a lot of valuable minerals," he explained. "I don't want to predict it now. I'm just saying the president, who knows a thing or two about buying real estate, wants to take a look at a potential Greenland purchase."

Kudlow's confirmation comes days after the Wall Street Journal first reported Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland, a mostly-autonomous Danish territory and the largest island in the world.

In response, Greenland foreign minister Ane Lone Bagger told Reuters, "We are open for business, but we're not for sale."

Why should America buy Greenland

Purchasing Greenland would be a strategic investment, not only for U.S. national security and military interests — such as providing excellent access to the Arctic, and therefore increased access to Russia and China — but for economic and environmental interests as well.

From the Washington Examiner:

Greenland also abounds with resources. An already energy independent U.S. would have unfettered access to a land rich not only in hydrocarbons but also in rare earth metals that are currently only available from an adversary, China. Greenland also controls flourishing fishing waters.

But this isn't just about American interests. Greenland's small population also has everything to gain from a massive influx of American investment. The surge in tourism alone would surely offer a vast untapped potential.

And Greenland offers many grand opportunities for environmental protection. Its waters are home to numerous species of Whale, its lands to numerous species of flower and animals, and its skies to numerous species of birds. Greenland offers the potential for vast new designated wildlife reserves, and it would give American scientists the chance to study the Arctic environment from a unique vantage point.

While it's not yet clear what will happen, what is clear is that America's purchase of Alaska for $7.2 million was well worth the investment. The same could be said about Greenland.