Experts argue that placing part of President Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense system in Greenland could enhance safety for Americans, as the island is viewed as “critically important” in countering intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) launched from Russia and China.
Greenland’s significance stems from its geographic location and structure.
The Danish territory, almost four times Texas’s size, is positioned in a likely trajectory for ICBMs from Russia or China. Being within the Arctic Circle offers the shortest flight path from Moscow to Washington.
According to Justina Boujnaite-Flory, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, “It’s technically important. It’s the ability to early detect when an intercontinental ballistic missile is being launched.” She added that, “Given Greenland’s geography and the missiles passing over Greenland, it makes perfect sense to strengthen our defenses there.” She explained that a route over Greenland from Russia would be the quickest way to reach the United States.
President Trump has emphasized that the Golden Dome, a proposed multi-layered missile defense system, would be effective against “hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, advanced cruise missiles…even if they were launched from the other side of the world.”
Congress has approved approximately $25 billion for Golden Dome’s construction, which is estimated to total at least $175 billion. Last week, Trump mentioned the necessity of “needing Greenland” for the missile shield, declaring it “extremely important” to the project.
Peter Dolan, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, cautioned that the United States currently lacks a defense system against ICBMs, unlike Israel’s Iron Dome.
“Greenland is critical to that strategy,” Dolan affirmed, explaining that many Americans mistakenly believe the U.S. is adequately shielded from missiles launched by Russia and other nations. He described this misunderstanding as “very disturbing.”
ICBMs from Russia take about 40 minutes to reach targets in the U.S., according to military experts.
Russia’s “Satan II” ICBM can cover ranges of 6,200 to 11,800 miles, capable of carrying a hefty payload, including multiple nuclear warheads.
Reportedly, the Pentagon is considering Fort Drum, a base in upstate New York, for Golden Dome missile interceptors, though an anonymous defense official noted that Greenland might not be a better option.
Dolan countered this perspective, arguing that deploying interceptors in Greenland would provide better protection than those on the U.S. mainland, offering a larger margin for detecting and intercepting incoming threats.
He expressed concern about a potential future scenario where a U.S. president needs to respond to such threats, emphasizing that having the Golden Dome in Greenland would increase interception chances. “By deploying it there, future presidents could protect their homeland from dire situations,” he added.
