On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump is attending the Davos summit and is meeting with European leaders to discuss Greenland, after doubling down on his intention to acquire it, saying there is “no going back”.
Access to Greenland’s vast untapped mineral wealth has become a matter of national sovereignty. China currently controls most of the global rare earth refining and export, with about 60–70% of mining and up to 90% of processing capacity. And the US and Europe are searching for other sources.
Greenland’s rare earth and uranium deposits put it at the centre of the global race for important minerals. The Kvanefjeld deposit alone contains billions of tonnes of rare-earth oxides, and Greenland might have close to 20 percent of the world’s rare-earth reserves.
Control of these resources brings strategic advantages in technology, energy, and security, increasing international interest and scrutiny on Greenland.