US President Donald Trump said American control of Greenland was “vital” for the Golden Dome defence system, arguing it was needed for US national security and for Nato’s effectiveness.“The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security. It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building,” Trump, who has vowed to seize the Arctic island from ally Denmark, wrote on social media.“Nato becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES. Anything less than that is unacceptable.”Is Trump’s obsession with making Greenland the 51st state of the United States linked with his “Golden Dome”, a $175 Billion, multi-layered missile defense system?And the answer is Yes. Greenland’s importance to the Golden Dome lies in its geography, space infrastructure, missile-flight paths, and Arctic dominance, not merely politics or raw materials.Missile paths cross GreenlandGreenland, positioned between the US and Russia, was described as an area of high strategic importance for Americans and for Arctic security, and as a territory known for untapped raw materials, from oil and gas reserves to critical mineral deposits, Eurasian Times reported.Russian ballistic missiles aimed at the United States would likely fly over Greenland because the shortest route runs across the Arctic. This makes Greenland an ideal place to spot, track, and intercept missiles early. Missile defence works best when sensors and interceptors are positioned close to the missile’s flight path.Greenland hosts key US space assetsGreenland is home to Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base. It is now part of the US Space Force. The base supports missile-warning radars, satellite tracking, and space surveillance. The Golden Dome relies on these space-based systems, not just ground defences.Arctic is vital for space controlSatellites in polar orbit pass over the High North many times a day. Greenland is one of the best locations on Earth to command satellites, relay data, and coordinate space-based missile defence. Experts say it is second only to Norway’s Svalbard—but it is closer to the US and easier to protect, as per Eurasian Times.China and Russia raise the stakesRussia is militarising the Arctic, and China is expanding its influence there. Both are developing anti-satellite weapons and long-range missiles. The Golden Dome is designed to counter this combined threat from the north and from space.