Fri, 23 Jan 2026

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 Trump covets mineral-rich Greenland, but what natural resources does it actually have?

Greenland's natural resources include large reserves of rare earth deposits.

* Greenland sits on top of large reserves of oil, natural gas, and rare earth minerals, including graphite, niobium, and titanium.
* The island is home to 25 of 34 "critical raw materials" deemed essential for electronics, green energy, and military technologies, according to the European Commission.
* Donald Trump claims to have secured a "framework" for a deal with Greenland on defense cooperation, which includes access to rare earth minerals.
* Trump's interest in controlling Greenland is primarily driven by access to these resources and blocking China's access.
* The US has been tightening its ties with Greenland since 2020, including reopening its consulate in Nuuk.
* Analysts warn that accessing Greenland's resources will be challenging due to high costs, severe weather conditions, and a lack of infrastructure.
* Rapidly melting ice is making it easier to extract minerals from the island, but experts say mining in Greenland is still largely theoretical.
* The Trump administration has been working to secure US access to supply and production of rare earths, an industry dominated by China.
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