Why Donald Trump Wants Greenland—Melting Ice, Mineral Gold Rush…And Unfortunately Global Climate Disaster

Greenland, the world’s largest island, has found itself at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war, with Donald Trump famously expressing interest in purchasing it. But what makes Greenland so desirable? The answer lies beneath its melting ice—an untapped treasure trove of critical minerals—and the implications are as significant for the global economy as they are for the planet’s climate.

Trump’s Interest in Greenland

Amid the growing interest in Greenland’s resources, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to bring the island under U.S. control. Describing the acquisition as an “absolute necessity” for national security, Trump has even suggested that military force could be used to secure Greenland for the U.S.

The geopolitical bets have only risen with Trump’s remarks, placing Greenland at the center of an international dispute. The island’s strategic location, coupled with its untapped mineral resources, makes it a coveted prize in the ongoing race for Arctic dominance.

Greenland’s Response

Greenland, for its part, has firmly rejected the idea of being “for sale.” Prime Minister Mute Egede has made it clear that while Greenland is open to closer ties with the U.S., particularly in areas like mining, it remains committed to its aspirations for independence. Egede has called on the international community to respect Greenland’s sovereignty and its right to determine its own future.

A Land Transformed by Climate Change

Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, sits between the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans. Once a frigid expanse of ice, the island has been reshaped by human-induced global warming. Historic satellite imagery analyzed by the University of Leeds reveals a drastic transformation – ice sheets and glaciers are giving way to wetlands, shrublands, and barren rock.

This ice loss has dire consequences. Scientists warn of rising sea levels and increased greenhouse gas emissions as ancient ice melts. Yet, for mining companies, these exposed landscapes present an unprecedented opportunity.

The Mineral “Gold Rush”

Greenland’s melting ice has revealed some of the world’s largest untapped reserves of critical minerals. As the ice recedes, mining companies are eyeing resources that were previously locked away beneath the frozen terrain. Roderick McIllree, executive director of the U.K.-based mining firm 80 Mile, notes that retreating ice is revolutionizing access to Greenland’s remote areas.

“The waters around Greenland are opening up earlier each year and closing later,” McIllree said. “The receding ice caps are exposing rocks and potential mineral deposits that haven’t been seen before.”

80 Mile is actively developing three major projects in Greenland –

• An oil concession on the east coast
• A titanium project near the U.S. Pituffik Space Base in the northwest
• The Disko-Nuussuaq project in the southwest, which McIllree claims could hold one of the largest nickel and copper reserves on the planet.

These projects indicate Greenland’s strategic potential as a globally significant mining hub, with resources critical for industries ranging from electronics to renewable energy.

The Logistics of a Melting Island

Tony Sage, CEO of Critical Metals Corporation, has been quick to point out how the retreat of Greenland’s ice has played into the hands of his mining operation. The company is developing one of the world’s largest rare earth assets at Tanbreez, located in southern Greenland. Thanks to the melting ice, Sage’s team has been able to bring in large ships directly from the North Atlantic to the edge of their ore body.

“The creation of fjords 80 meters deep means we can use a floating dock rather than a traditional port,” this is a logistical advantage that would have been unthinkable in previous decades when the island’s icy expanse blocked such access. While the harsh Arctic conditions and remote geography still pose challenges, the island’s changing environment is making extraction easier.

However, this is not without its challenges. Sage pointed to the lack of infrastructure as a significant barrier to large-scale mining. “The Danes never built a railway or roads,” he noted, the logistical difficulties of transporting materials across the island. In many areas, a helicopter is required to travel between towns.

Exploring Greenland’s Rich Resources

Jakob Kløve Keiding, a senior consultant at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), spoke of the results of a 2023 survey that evaluated 38 raw materials on the island. According to Keiding, the majority of these materials have moderate to high potential, illustrating Greenland’s status as a treasure trove of critical minerals.

Among the most promising resources are rare earth metals such as graphite, niobium, platinum group metals, molybdenum, tantalum, and titanium. Greenland is also home to significant deposits of lithium, hafnium, uranium, and gold—minerals that are increasingly in demand due to their role in energy transition technologies. These materials are essential for the production of electric vehicle batteries, energy storage systems, and national security applications, making Greenland’s resources highly strategic in the global race for critical minerals.

A Greenfield Exploration Area

Despite the apparent riches beneath its surface, Greenland remains in the early stages of mineral exploration. Keiding referred to the island as a “greenfield exploration area,” meaning that while there is huge potential, many of the deposits are still being studied, and data on them is limited.

“There is huge potential [in Greenland] but, at the moment, there is not actually much mining going on,”  said Keiding. While some large and well-established deposits with known resources exist, many areas are still in the exploration phase, where much more work is needed to fully understand the scale and viability of these resources.

Keiding was cautious about the prospect of a rapid mineral “gold rush” in Greenland. While the retreating ice may remove some logistical hurdles, progress in terms of extraction is expected to take time. The harsh environment, remote location, and lack of infrastructure continue to pose significant challenges for mining companies looking to tap into Greenland’s resources.

“Greenland is in the early stages of exploration, and even though there is potential, it will take quite some time before any meaningful extraction can take place,”Keiding warned.

A Geopolitical and Economic Gamechanger

Despite these challenges, Greenland’s mineral wealth holds the potential to be a gamechanger, both geopolitically and economically. As the world shifts toward cleaner energy and more sustainable technologies, the demand for critical minerals will only grow. Greenland, with its vast untapped reserves, is poised to play a central role in meeting this demand.

But the road ahead is not without obstacles. The island’s political status, lack of infrastructure, and harsh conditions mean that Greenland’s mineral potential may take years—if not decades—to fully realize. Still, for those with the patience and resources to navigate the challenges, Greenland offers a wealth of opportunity.

As the world looks to the future of energy and security, Greenland’s resources will undoubtedly remain in the spotlight, and the island’s journey from greenfield exploration to a global mining hub will be one to watch closely.

While the prospect of a mineral boom is enticing for economic reasons, it raises critical environmental concerns.

Greenland’s transformation is indicative of the accelerating climate crisis. The very forces that make mining feasible—melting ice and warming temperatures—are a catastrophe for the planet.