Under the melted ice sheet of Greenland, there is a treasure trove of rare earth elements that are essential for everything, from electric vehicles to wind turbines. President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States should have a territory has attracted a lot of attention, and the wealth of Greenland minerals is an important reason.
China dominates these metals global supply and controls at least 70 % of production, but Greenland deposits are competing to secure an alternative source of these important materials. We are attracting strong interest from the United States and the European Union.
Key takes
Greenland geopolitics
The push to unlock the Greenland rare earth sediment opposes the complex background of international relations. Denmark offers Greenland about $ 500 million a year and offers more than $ 8,000 per resident. But this has not stopped focusing on strategic value. Trump has revived his interest in acquiring territories with the Republican Allies of Congress to approve negotiations with Denmark.
However, the value of Greenland is far beyond the wealth of minerals. The location of the island along the shortest route between Europe and North America is especially important for US military interests, especially for ballistic missile warning systems. Under the agreement with Denmark in 1951, the United States aimed to expand military footprints to monitor Russian navy activities in Greenland, Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom. Previously, it has been a permanent existence at the Pita -hik Air Force base in the northwest of Greenland.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Eugede emphasizes that “Greenland is not on sale”, but in the 2023 survey, Greenland is 34 minerals that the European Commission regarded as “important raw materials”. It has become clear that he owns 25. This created a competitive profit from multiple authority. The EU aims to secure a supply chain, as China is seeking an invasion, the United States pursues strategic benefits.
Important minerals that move tomorrow’s technology
China manages nearly 70 % of the world -produced world production and controls about 90 % of the processing capacity, but the Greenland sediment is a potential source of these important materials. The market for these minerals reached $ 320 billion in 2022 (the latest time when the latest data is available).
These minerals provide a variety of applications throughout the industry.
Neodims and dysprosium are important to create powerful permanent magnets used by electric motors and wind turbine generators. Telvium improves the temperature resistance of these magnets and enhances durability. PRASEODIUM enhances magnetic characteristics that are essential for high -performance motors.
However, the development of Greenland resources has a major issue. The rarely mineral concentration of mineral mineral in this area is relatively low, and the extraction is more costly and technically challenging between 1 % and 6 %. Strict Arctic climate blocks transportation during the winter, and an ice flow that requires a complicated method to save the mined ones blocks transportation and adds another layer of complexity. 。
China has established a position as a dominant power of rare earth elements, and is nearly 70 % of production and about 90 % of processing capacity. Recent changes in policies suggest that China can further enhance the market by restricting exports, integrating domestic producers, and stockpiling reserves.
Conclusion
Greenland’s rare earth metal sediments are enormous, including 25 of the 34 important minerals specified by the EU, but will immediately see how they can be used to break China’s rule in global production. Is not easy. The Greenland people have revealed that only they will determine their future, including the future of their underground deposits. Concerns about technical difficulties and vulnerable ecosystems associated with the Arctic mining are also hurdles. Even with these concerns aside, the experts performed large -scale mining of these metals about 10 to 15 years later.
