A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is headed to Copenhagen later this week to show unity with Denmark amid tensions over Greenland. Sen.

As the Earth warms, new shipping routes from one side of the globe to the other are opening around Greenland, making the vast island a strategic priority for superpowers.

Greenland’s untapped mineral wealth has landed the island at the top of President Donald Trump’s empire-building wish list.

In April, Reuters reported that some Silicon Valley tech investors had been advocating for the idea of a "freedom city" in Greenland, which the outlet described as “a libertarian utopia with minimal corporate regulation,” citing three individuals familiar with the matter.

Trump allies have cited the island's continued role in missile defense infrastructure, accusing Denmark of leaving it vulnerable to potential Russian and Chinese influence.

President Donald Trump continued his threats towards Greenland on Friday, as he insisted that if the United States did not act Russia or China would occupy it in the future.

Greenland is a member of NATO and the defence of Greenland must therefore be through NATO,' the government said.

President Trump has said that he would like to make a deal to acquire Greenland, a semiautonomous region of NATO ally Denmark, to prevent Russia or China from taking it over.