Greenland invites US collaboration on critical resource extraction
Greenland responded to Donald Trump's remarks about acquiring the island by proposing cooperation with the US in extracting critical resources. These resources are essential for renewable energy and defence.
The Greenlandic authorities reacted to Donald Trump's statement expressing interest in acquiring the island, by proposing cooperation with the United States in the extraction of critical resources. These resources are significant for the renewable energy and defence sectors.
Greenland looks forward to working with the incoming US administration and other NATO allies to ensure security and stability in the Arctic region - emphasised Greenland's Minister for Independence and Foreign Affairs, Vivian Motzfeldt.
The minister also added that "Greenland belongs to the People of Greenland. The fight for independence is Greenland's own matter. Our future is ours and must be defined by us. We are aware of our rights as a People with the right to self-determination."
Currently in Denmark, Minister Motzfeldt and the island's Prime Minister Mute Egede met in Copenhagen with US Ambassador Alan Leventhal, as reported by the American diplomatic mission on Instagram on Thursday.
Talks between Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Denmark
On Friday, talks are scheduled to take place in the Danish capital between the authorities of Greenland and the Faroe Islands and the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. In connection with this, a meeting is to be held on Thursday with the head of the Danish government and all parties sitting in the Danish parliament. Frederiksen announced through social media that she has conducted telephone conversations with European state leaders, stating that "not everything can be disclosed."
According to the Greenlandic government, in addition to oil and gas deposits, 25 out of 34 critical resources, minerals, and metals sought by the EU are found on the island. Among them are elements such as neodymium and dysprosium. In March 2024, the European Commission opened an office in the island's capital - Nuuk.
The deposits of rare metals in Greenland are estimated at 42 million tonnes. Currently, China has a monopoly on the extraction of many of them. Greenland's area, previously covered by ice, is becoming increasingly accessible to the mining industry due to climate changes.
Critical resources are those which have particular importance for sectors such as renewable energy (battery cells for cars, motors for wind turbines), space, digitalisation, and defence.
In recent weeks, the public's attention has been drawn to controversial statements by US President-elect Donald Trump regarding, among other things, the purchase of Greenland from Denmark, taking control of the Panama Canal, or annexing Canada and making it the 51st state of the USA.
