Global investors have raised red flags about Greenland’s mining future after Donald Trump floated plans about buying the Arctic territory, the nation’s top mining official said Tuesday.
Mining Minister Naaja Nathanielsen told the Financial Times that Trump’s refusal to rule out military force has raised concerns among potential investors about Greenland’s stability.
“When he talked about not excluding military use in Greenland, I was quite worried about how investors would perceive Greenland, maybe as a democracy about to be unstable or overrun,” Nathanielsen said. “That would be devastating for our mineral sector because investors do not like instability.”
Don't Miss:
- With 100+ historic trademark victories, this company holds IP for some of the highest-grossing characters in history. Now, they've propelled these icons into the future using next-gen patented AR, VR, and AI technology. There’s now a limited window for investors to claim shares at just $2/share with $980 minimum—but the clock is ticking.
- ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.
The fallout has reached mining boardrooms. According to the Financial Times, several companies have sought assurances about their mining permits in the event of U.S. control, citing a source with knowledge of the discussions.
The Arctic nation sits on vast deposits of rare earth elements – minerals used in everything from smartphones to defense systems. The resources could help break China’s grip on the global supply chain. Yet despite its mineral wealth, Greenland has failed to launch a major mining operation.
The roadblocks go beyond geopolitics. Greenland lacks roads between its cities and its harsh climate limits mining operations to short seasonal windows. The challenges have kept many projects on paper despite decades of exploration.
See Also: Built on the trusted network of Fortune 500 companies, this blockchain company partners with Salesforce to uproot lengthy and expensive B2B transactions, and you can invest with just $100.
“You also have to build supporting infrastructure, as well as the actual mine,” said Svend Hardenberg, who heads Energy Transition Minerals. “Also, there’s a lack of skilled workers since it’s an industry not yet matured.”
London-based Anglo American leads foreign investment in Greenland with several exploration permits. Other companies have mapped out promising sites for copper and rare minerals, but securing financial backing remains difficult.
The success of the mining sector is especially important for Greenland. The territory receives four billion Danish kroner ($550 million) yearly from Denmark and a thriving mining industry could pave the way toward independence.
Nathanielsen pressed Western nations to match their strategic interests with concrete support. “To get these minerals from Greenland, it’s not enough just to say, ‘We want this.’ You also need to help companies in those early stages where it’s vital they get a lot of funding,” she said.
Some industry watchers see Trump’s focus on Greenland as a potential turning point. “People think Greenland is too hard, too hard. Then Donald Trump turns up and says Greenland is maybe the most valuable piece of real estate in the world and suddenly everyone wants to invest,” said Roderick McIllree, who runs UK mining firm 80 Mile.
While Trump’s comments rattled some investors, Nathanielsen found common ground on resource development. “If you cut through the rhetoric, what I hear Trump saying is he thinks the natural resources in Greenland should be put to use. And we totally agree with him on this,” she said.
Read Next:
- Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share!
- According to Juniper Research, the total value of B2B cross-border payments stored on the blockchain is projected to exceed $4.4 trillion — Join the first company to bring blockchain payments to Salesforce early with just $100.
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
