Donald Trump has renewed his threats to take Greenland as a US oil company with ties to his allies makes unauthorised preparations to drill there, raising fears that pressure on the territory is moving beyond rhetoric.

After appearing to back off earlier this year, President Donald Trump this week renewed his threats to seize Greenland. A Saturday report that a Texas oil company with ties to Trump had begun preparing to drill in the Arctic territory without permission has raised fresh concerns that his push for control of the island may already be moving beyond rhetoric.

As The Guardian reported, Greenland’s government issued a “strong warning” last week after learning that a Texas oil company called Greenland Energy had begun making unauthorised preparations for oil extraction in Jameson Land, a remote area of eastern Greenland, including bringing drilling materials ashore.

The company, founded last year, has claimed that Jameson Land may contain $1 trillion worth of crude oil and announced plans to drill two wells there – a project that requires approval from Greenland’s government.

The company also has ties to several Trump allies and associates. According to The Guardian:

Greenland Energy has retained Phil McGraw, better known as Dr Phil, a prominent right-wing former chat show host who served on Trump’s religious freedom commission, to make a documentary series that will “capture the mission of these modern-day wildcatters”.It has also appointed as a director a US Navy veteran who is working on Golden Dome, the missile defence plan for which Trump says controlling........

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