The contentious deep sea mining issue near the waters of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa was a focal point highlighting the lack of autonomy United States territories face.  This comes as non-profit organization Right to Democracy recently held a virtual panel that examined what Greenland should know about being a US territory, following President Donald Trump’s threats to take control over the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. 

What should Greenlanders know about being an American territory?  It was the topic of discussion for the virtual panel recently where experts from all five territories gave their perspectives.  According to co-director Neil Weare, the conversation was sparked by President Trump’s threats to take control of the semi-autonomous island, which has been a territory of Denmark for hundreds of years. 

"He shared a meme of himself holding a flag next to a sign that said ‘Greenland, U.S. territory, established 2026’ with JD Vance and the Secretary of State Rubio next to him – showing that this was not just some idle speculation," said Weare. "This wasn't a joke, this was serious."

Weare notes Greenland currently has “much greater autonomy” than US territories, from political rights to self-governance. He says one of those areas they’ve exercised that autonomy is taking control of their mineral resources. 

"So they have the full decision-making power in that space and all revenues from mineral extraction goes to Greenland, not to Denmark," he added.

It's a stark contrast for Guam, the CNMI and American Samoa, who all face a looming federal push to open their waters for commercial deep sea mining, despite their unified opposition.  This issue a focal point highlighting the lack of sovereignty US territories face, as underscored by former Guam congressman Dr. Robert Underwood. 

"Of course, there are a lot of environmental concerns pertaining to it, but at the bottom of deep seabed mining, to mix metaphors, and even deeper than deep seabed mining is the issue of ownership, is the issue of sovereignty over those resources," Underwood pointed out. "It just strikes me as this is the first issue in which American Samoa and the Commonwealth and Guam are all on the same sheet."

Being a US territory is a constant fight for rights, according to Sheila Babauta, a former Saipan representative and chairperson for the friends of the Marianas Trench, a non-profit focused on ocean conservation. 

"Many of us who feel deeply rooted here, who love our home so much, refuse to accept that, that we just hand over our rights and roll over and let the US federal government do whatever they want with the oceans around us, that we live so closely to, that we are so connected to," she said.

As for the one message each panelist want to send to the people of Greenland based on their territories’ relationships with the US. Eva Prados of Puerto Rico said, "Most of the time we feel powerless and the federal government imposes all these things, so it’s terrible."

Babauta added, "I'd say the experience of imperialism is real for us. Get ready to fight and fight and fight."

Dr. Hadiya Sewer of the US Virgin Islands said, "I'd say that self-determination, I would argue, is always more important than ‘military strategic interests.’" And American Samoa's Charlie Ala'ilima added, "Do you really wanna be subject to the plenary authority of Congress?"

Guam's Underwood noted, "There's always the theory that plenary power can be used for good. But there's always somebody out there arguing that maximum authority by Congress means that they can avoid the Constitution in the cases of the territories."