As mineral-resource security has become a pillar of global diplomacy and defence, Greenland has emerged as a focal point for Western efforts to diversify supply chains. The island’s unique geology contains 24 of the European Union’s 34 critical raw materials, including world-class deposits of rare-earth elements (REEs), graphite and platinum-group metals. However, the path to production is fraught with challenges. While the United States has displayed interest in territorial acquisition, including President Donald Trump’s 2026 suggestion of annexation, strategic partnerships and private-sector investments, such as in Greenland’s Tanbreez REE project, offer a more viable alternative to access the island’s resources. However, exploitation remains complicated by Greenland’s interest in its own resource sovereignty and strict environmental guidelines, alongside significant infrastructural challenges and harsh Arctic logistics. Ultimately, Greenland offers a high-reward but high-risk opportunity for Western mineral-resource resilience, one that must be balanced against the opportunities and challenges of extending domestic Western production elsewhere.
Carrie Soderman (Mon,) studied this question.