Greenland’s Stance on US Overtures

Greenland’s Mining and Economics Minister, Vittus Qujaukitsoq’s predecessor, rejected US overtures to purchase the territory. Residents should decide the future of the island and its valuable resources.

Cooperation Over Acquisition

"We want cooperation. We don’t want to be Americans," said the Minister. “And there’s a big, big difference.” The government was discussing cooperation with the United States but that it was "too early to say" what the talks might look like. US officials will meet with their Danish counterparts next week to discuss President Donald Trump’s interest in the island. Greenland will have a representative at the meeting.

Strategic Location and Mineral Wealth

Greenland’s strategic location as a gateway to the Arctic has made it increasingly attractive to the United States as the region becomes more accessible. However, President Donald Trump has also pointed to the territory’s vast mineral wealth, which includes iron ore and gold as well as rare earth metals. Greenland’s 36 million tonnes of rare earths would rival Chinese reserves if made accessible.

Repeated Warnings to Greenland

The Trump administration is considering offering Greenlanders lump sum payments of between $10,000 and $100,000 per person to persuade them to join the United States. Trump and his senior adviser have also suggested that the US could take the island by military force.

Current Mining Activities

There are currently two active mines in Greenland that produce gold and the mineral anorthosite, which is used to make windows, paints and coatings. A Danish-French company received permission to begin mining last year, while a U.S.-backed company is building a pilot project to extract rare earth metals.

Future Plans and Foreign Investment

The Minister said there are no projects with Chinese or Russian support. An explicit ban on support to certain countries is being discussed in parliament on foreign direct investment legislation. Greenland is aware that it falls within the U.S. sphere of interest and that it would prefer to develop its resources with "like-minded" countries, including the U.S., Britain, the European Union, Australia and Canada, but at its own request. “You have to respect that it is the Greenlandic people who decide what happens in Greenland,” she said.