Greenland has laid down a preposition for the United States and European nations about investing in its mining industry, suggesting that if they don’t, then they’ll be forced to go elsewhere, and that could be China.
On Monday, Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business and mineral resources, emphasized her presence for collaboration with European and American partners.
Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, holds substantial mineral deposits in remote regions. Many of these contain strategic minerals, including rare earths increasingly sought by Western powers. China currently dominates the global supply of several key minerals. It produces 60 per cent of the world’s rare earths and refines nearly all of them, creating a pseudo-monopoly.
The Greenland government sees mineral development as central to diversifying its economy. These deposits include up to 40 minerals listed as critical by the US and EU. Additionally, officials aim to attract Western investment and reduce reliance on traditional industries.
A memorandum of understanding with the US, signed during Donald Trump’s first term, supports Greenland’s mineral development. That agreement is now nearing expiration. Furthermore, efforts to renew it under President Joe Biden’s administration have failed.
“We want to develop our business sector and diversify it, and that requires investments from outside,” said Nathanielsen.
Since winning a second term, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in purchasing Greenland to access its mineral reserves.
Greenlandic minister Naaja H. Nathanielsen criticized Trump’s past remarks in an interview with the Financial Times. She described the idea of a US takeover as “disrespectful and distasteful.” In addition, she emphasized Greenland’s right to self-determination and control over its natural resources.
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Greenland aims to deepen its bilateral ties with the EU
Despite the rhetoric, Naaja H. Nathanielsen said Chinese involvement in Greenland’s mining sector remains minimal. Only two Chinese companies currently hold minority stakes in inactive projects.
Previously, China sought a role in the Tanbreez mine project in southern Greenland. The site hosts one of the world’s largest rare earth reserves. However, the US and Danish governments lobbied the project’s owner to reject Beijing’s approach. The owner later sold the project to New York-based Critical Metals.
Amid Trump’s takeover threats, Greenland offered to partner with the European Union to develop its mineral resources. Further, Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said the island aims to deepen its bilateral ties with the EU. She identified precious minerals as a central focus of future cooperation.
Motzfeldt also said earlier this month that Greenland wants to broaden cooperation beyond fisheries. The island aims to work with partners on critical minerals and energy. Additionally, she emphasized that Greenland can supply what like-minded countries need to build a greener, renewable future.
The Greenlandic government, now led by a four-party coalition, prioritizes development. It also welcomes partnerships with allies that share its values.
Nathanielsen acknowledged the difficulty of navigating shifting Western alliances. However, she views the European Union as a favourable partner due to its mineral demand and shared environmental standards.
She also raised concerns about the motives behind US investment. Nathanielsen said Greenland had hoped for open dialogue with the Trump administration on mineral development. Instead, the response felt overly assertive, and Greenland has no desire to become American territory.
Furthermore, Nathanielsen noted that while Greenland has welcomed several foreign investors, it has yet to see direct financial involvement from American businesses.
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Trump campaigned on an ‘America First’ platform
The United States continues to ramp up efforts to secure critical minerals vital to its manufacturing and defense industries. These minerals—such as rare earths, lithium, and cobalt—are essential for everything from electric vehicles and wind turbines to semiconductors and military technologies.
In the past year, Washington has taken several steps to reduce dependency on foreign sources, particularly China, which currently controls much of the global rare earth supply chain. The Biden administration has allocated funding, streamlined permitting, and strengthened alliances through initiatives like the Mineral Security Partnership to support domestic and allied production.
Trump campaigned once again on an “America First” platform. His renewed emphasis on domestic control over critical supply chains reinforces the push to limit U.S. reliance on adversarial sources of minerals.
For Greenland, this geopolitical shift presents both opportunity and scrutiny. The island holds vast untapped reserves of strategic minerals, and Western interest in securing access to those resources continues to grow.
Recently, Greenland awarded its first mining license under a new regulatory code to a Danish-French consortium.
The project, valued at €150 million, will extract anorthosite—a mineral used in the fiberglass industry—from a site in western Greenland.
Construction is expected to begin next year. This development signals Greenland’s intent to position itself as a stable, Western-aligned supplier of industrial minerals. As the U.S. intensifies its efforts to secure friendly sources of supply, Greenland could become an increasingly important partner in the critical minerals landscape.
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United States FAST-41 initiative built to solve mineral shortage
President Trump launched the FAST-41 initiative to find a solution for the critical mineral shortage. What it does is expedite the permitting process for critical mineral projects, aiming to bolster domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign sources. This program streamlines federal approvals, enhancing transparency and efficiency for projects deemed vital to national interests.
Furthermore, Perpetua Resources Corp (TSE: PPTA) (NASDAQ: PPTA) and Rio Tinto Group (NYSE: RIO) are two companies benefiting from FAST-41. Perpetua’s Stibnite project in Idaho focuses on antimony and gold, while Rio Tinto’s Resolution project in Arizona targets copper.
Both projects have received federal support to accelerate development.
Looking ahead, companies like NevGold Corp (CVE: NAU) (OTCMKTS: NAUFF) (FRA: 5E50) and United States Antimony Corp (NYSEAMERICAN: UAMY) are strong candidates for inclusion in the FAST-41 program.
NevGold’s Limousine Butte project in Nevada has revealed significant antimony deposits, with samples containing up to 10% antimony. This positions NevGold as a potential key player in domestic antimony production. Similarly, UAMY is currently the only U.S. producer of antimony, making it strategically important for national security and industrial applications.
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NevGold Corp is a sponsor of Mugglehead news coverage
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