Before U.S. forces captured Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump renewed his ambition to acquire Greenland, the autonomous territory of Denmark.
“We need Greenland for national security,” Trump stated publicly last month.
Following the military intervention in Venezuela, Trump again discussed seizing Greenland. European leaders are now taking these statements seriously.
On Tuesday, leaders from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK issued a joint statement emphasizing Arctic security through NATO cooperation and reaffirming Greenland’s sovereignty.
“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement declared. “Only Denmark and Greenland can decide on relevant matters.”
Despite the statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that discussions about purchasing Greenland are ongoing. Asked about military involvement, Leavitt noted, “all options are always on the table.”
Trump previously emphasized his focus on security rather than minerals, though administration members cited Greenland’s mineral wealth as a motive.
With Venezuela’s oil wealth central to U.S. intervention, actions in Greenland could impact its significant mineral deposits and environment.
Mineral Wealth, Big Obstacles
The U.S. Geological Survey indicates Greenland holds substantial undiscovered oil and gas reserves and ranks eighth globally for rare earth minerals, crucial for renewable energy and military. The Trump administration prioritizes access, given China’s supply chain dominance.
Greenland’s harsh climate, remote location, and stringent environmental laws complicate resource extraction.
In 2021, Greenland banned new offshore oil and gas exploration, citing climate change. Current leases, issued prior to the ban, involve a British company collaborating with U.S. firms, but no production is active.
The island’s mineral deposits draw foreign interest, yet face significant hurdles, said Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, Greenland’s permanent secretary of Business, Mineral Resources, Energy, Justice, and Gender Equality.
A large deposit remains off-limits due to uranium mining restrictions. A company, now Energy Transition Minerals, seeks arbitration for access or compensation after local opposition led to renewed mining limits in 2021.
A second rare-earth site is licensed to a U.S. firm but faces processing challenges, according to Hammeken-Holm. He expressed confidence in regulations preventing environmental harm, though funding delays most projects.
Hammeken-Holm did not comment on U.S. efforts for Greenland control, noting no engagement from the U.S. over minerals, contrasting with Europe’s vocal support for mining in Greenland.
A White House spokesperson directed inquiries to Leavitt’s briefing.
Environmental impacts in Greenland are largely tied to its ice sheet, which could raise global sea levels over 20 feet if melted. The ice has been rapidly melting, a stark indicator of climate change, which persists as fossil fuel consumption continues.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org