In 2019, Donald Trump made headlines by saying he wanted to buy Greenland. People laughed. Greenland politely said “not for sale.” Fast-forward to 2025, and guess what? Trump’s back — and serious. Why all this attention? Because under Greenland’s icy crust lies 1.5 million tons of rare earths, rivaling the U.S. supply. And as the world electrifies, those elements become more valuable than gold. China already controls about 60–70% of global rare earth production, so if Greenland opens its vault, the global power balance could shift.

Greenland isn’t just an island. It’s a treasure chest of critical minerals — uranium, lithium, cobalt, zinc, rubies, and a mountain of rare earth elements that power everything from smartphones and wind turbines to electric vehicles and fighter jets. And guess what? The race to grab this treasure is heating up.

First, a Little Ice-Breaker on Greenland

Greenland isn’t fully independent. It’s part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Many Greenlanders want full independence, but here’s the catch: about 50% of Greenland’s GDP comes from Danish subsidies — a kind of national-level social welfare. To break free, Greenland needs to double its revenue. And the fastest way to do that? Dig.

Enter the rare earth elements.

Discovered in a region called Kvanefjeld (also known as Kuannersuit), these minerals are vital for making magnets, batteries, and advanced electronics. The global demand for them is exploding. There’s just one problem—China controls more than 60% of the world’s supply, and even more worryingly, almost all of the processing technology. This is where Greenland becomes the center of global attention.

China, meanwhile, already had its eyes on Greenland. Through investments in mining companies like Greenland Minerals Limited, backed by Chinese stakeholders, Beijing was positioning itself to deepen its grip on global supply chains—again.

At one point, a Chinese holding company even owned 12.5% of the rights to Greenland’s mining operations. If they had succeeded in processing Greenland’s rare earths, China could have reached near-total monopoly status. Imagine one country controlling the raw materials for nearly every electric car, missile system, or power grid upgrade on Earth.

That’s why NATO, the U.S., and Europe started paying attention.

Why Rare Earths Matter More Than Gold

Rare earths aren’t rare because they’re hard to find—they’re rare because they’re hard to mine safely, cleanly, and economically. Extracting them can release uranium and other radioactive byproducts. In Greenland, this means risking radioactive contamination near inhabited towns. So even if the minerals promise a financial jackpot, they carry social and ecological risks Greenlanders must weigh.

But the economic pressure is intense. Of the 34 critical raw materials listed by the European Commission, Greenland has 25. That includes cobalt, zinc, lithium, iron ore, uranium, and even rubies. With the green transition speeding up, these minerals are no longer just resources—they’re power.

Who Really Benefits?

Here’s where it gets murky. Many of the companies digging for Greenland’s minerals are not Greenlandic. They’re based in Australia, China, and the U.S. That means even if Greenland allows mining, the wealth might flow elsewhere—leaving locals with the waste, but not the wealth.

Some Greenlanders hope for crypto mining or tourism to boost revenue without extracting earth. Others argue that mineral development could offer jobs and infrastructure.

As ice melts and the world electrifies, the battle over Greenland’s underground fortune is just getting started.

Why Does the Economy Love Natural Resources?

Because in a global economy powered by tech, energy, and defense, natural resources are no longer just rocks in the ground. They are the atoms of advantage. The countries that control them can influence entire industries—and the countries that lack them risk falling behind.

That’s why powerful nations are eyeing Greenland not as a frozen frontier, but as the next frontier of economic control.