特朗普谋求格陵兰资源控制权，北极地缘竞争加剧

Content (stored)

<p><strong>Undeveloped oil and rare-earth reserves will require massive investment, but the island‘s political agency is priceless</strong></p>
            
                        
            <p>Amid growing geopolitical turbulence and intensifying competition for strategic resources, the Arctic is becoming a key theater of global rivalry. Energy policy in the modern world is a central element of national and international strategy. In recent weeks, Greenland has once again found itself at the center of international news. Donald Trump, having returned to the White House, has not simply returned to the old idea of ​​&rdquo;purchasing&rdquo; the island &ndash; he&rsquo;s now talking about <em>&ldquo;full and indefinite access,&rdquo;</em> payments of a million dollars to each resident, and even annexation plans.</p>
<p>Let&rsquo;s examine why this icy territory has become so hot.</p>
<p>Geologically, Greenland&rsquo;s resources can be assessed as significant, but economically, they are still hard to access. Greenland is a resource-rich but underdeveloped Arctic island with proven reserves of gold and a range of metals, suspected but unrealized oil and gas potential, and serious environmental, infrastructural, and political constraints on their economic development. The conversation about Greenland is rooted in long-term shifts in the global economy and security. Following Trump&rsquo;s statements and responses from local authorities, the discussion has shifted to practical matters: who exactly will gain access to these resources, and how will this change the balance in the Arctic?</p>
<p>In early 2026, Greenland firmly established itself as a central indicator of global geopolitical and geoeconomic transformations, where the interests of great powers, climate challenges, and the struggle for control of critical resources intersect in the face of accelerating melting of Arctic ice. According to US estimates (as recently as 20 years ago), up to 30 billion barrels of oil are hidden beneath glaciers and continental shelves, despite three decades of exploration by major companies such as Chevron, ENI, and Shell having yielded no commercial discoveries. A moratorium on new licenses was later imposed in 2021 due to climate concerns. The Jameson Land Basin contains projects with potential reserves of four billion barrels. The problem is the lack of infrastructure and the need for spill safeguards, estimated at billions of dollars.</p>
<p>Despite Greenland&rsquo;s rich mineral resources, only nine active mines have opened since World War II. Only two are currently operating: the White Mountain anorthosite mine and the small, high-grade Nalunaq gold mine.</p>
<p>Rare earth metal mining is not currently underway. Poor transport and energy infrastructure hinders development. Large-scale rare earth metal mining in Greenland requires significant investment in creating suitable conditions.</p>

            
    <blockquote>
        <span><strong>Read more</strong></span>
        <figure>
            <img alt="Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand speaks to reporters after opening a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, February 6, 2026." src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2026.02/thumbnail/6988a425203027582673d60d.jpg" />
            <figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/632169-canada-france-open-consulates-greenland-us-rift-trump/">Canada and France move into Greenland as US eyes the island</a></figcaption>
        </figure>
    </blockquote>


    

<h2>The stakes for global powers</h2>
<p>China has no Arctic territory, but is actively developing an economic presence through the Australian company Greenland Minerals, which plans to mine rare earths on the Kvanefjeld mineral deposit in the south of the island. China is willing to invest in Greenland&rsquo;s infrastructure to support its mining projects and Arctic plans. However, so far, no major projects have been implemented. In 2018, a Chinese construction company participated in a tender for the construction and expansion of airports in Greenland&rsquo;s capital Nuuk, as well as the towns of Ilulissat and Qaqortoq. The project was estimated to cost nearly $550 million. This angered the US and Denmark. US Secretary of Defense James Mattis called on the Danish government to intervene to prevent China from gaining a foothold in the region. Denmark withdrew from the tender and financed the airport upgrades itself to prevent China from participating. Although Denmark intervened due to security concerns, Greenlanders&rsquo; desire for economic independence may yet push them to accept foreign investment from China.</p>
<p>Russia, which controls the Northern Sea Route, views the strengthening of the US position in Greenland as a threat to its Arctic interests, especially in the context of cooperation with China on Arctic Ocean development.</p>
<p>Greenland is strategically important because it contains all kinds of rare earth metals, including neodymium and dysprosium, which are needed for powerful magnets in electric vehicles and wind turbines. It also contains terbium, which makes magnets more heat-resistant, and praseodymium, which enhances their magnetic properties.</p>
<p>Competition for key minerals is growing as countries seek to reduce their dependence on suppliers. This is driving interest in deposits in remote regions where mining was previously unprofitable due to challenging conditions. The Arctic is one such region where climate change and geopolitics are impacting Greenland&rsquo;s rare earth resources and its strategic location.</p>
<p>The mining industry typically focuses on accessible deposits with good technological indicators. However, supply issues have forced a reconsideration of projects that offer diversification benefits, even if they are more expensive. Governments and companies are now evaluating mining projects based not only on economic benefits but also on strategic security.</p>
<p>Greenland found itself in the spotlight due to the Cold War over the Arctic. Denmark gained sovereignty over the island in 1933, granted autonomy in 1979, and transferred control of its resources to local authorities in 2009. Foreign policy and defense, however, remained under Copenhagen&rsquo;s control.</p>

            
    <blockquote>
        <span><strong>Read more</strong></span>
        <figure>
            <img alt="RT" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2026.02/thumbnail/6985c11720302759aa281a0b.jpg" />
            <figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/632093-brussels-dependency-energy-russia/">Brussels’ dependency dilemma: The EU is a victim of its own energy arrogance</a></figcaption>
        </figure>
    </blockquote>


    

<p>Trump has stated that the US needs Greenland for national security reasons. His aides have suggested that the US could seize Danish territory to protect its interests. This underscores the Trump administration&rsquo;s view of resource security as a matter of national importance. Greenland contains iron ore, graphite, tungsten, palladium, vanadium, zinc, gold, uranium, copper, and oil. But rare earth elements have attracted the most attention. The US is concerned about the supply of rare earth elements for defense and commercial industries. In 2024, the US escalated the situation. Donald Trump declared <em>&ldquo;the need for American control of Greenland as a key element of US defense&rdquo;</em> and even threatened a military takeover, sparking concern in Europe. EU countries such as France, Germany, the UK, and Italy emphasized that Greenland belongs to its residents and began discussing a stronger military presence in the Arctic. In 2025, China imposed export controls on certain rare earth elements, leading to supply disruptions and production halts at Western automakers. Trump took steps to address these issues, such as a partnership with the American company MP Materials and agreements with Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia to develop deposits outside of China.</p>
<p>The EU remained silent for a long time, but in 2023, it signed a cooperation agreement with Greenland and allocated funds for the Malmbjerg molybdenum mine. As the former Danish foreign minister noted, Europe risks missing its opportunity and ceding control of strategic resources to the US and China.</p>
<p>Greenland&rsquo;s wealth lies not only in gold, oil, and rare earth elements, but also in its Arctic location and political agency. Greenlanders don&rsquo;t sell out their identity, even for astronomical sums &ndash; they measure their wealth not in barrels of oil, but in sovereignty, environmental sustainability, and connection to European values. It&rsquo;s important to remember: the question isn&rsquo;t whether Greenland is rich. Arctic wealth is difficult to access due to the short drilling season and the lack of roads, ports, and pipelines. The key is who and how quickly it will develop its resources in the face of climate change and geopolitical competition.</p>
<p>Not only the island&rsquo;s future depends on this, but also the balance of power in the Arctic, which is no longer a backwater but a battleground for influence. Greenland is showing the world that in the 21st century, the greatest wealth lies not in ice reserves, but in the ability to independently determine one&rsquo;s own destiny.</p>
<p>NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that the agreement he reached with US President Donald Trump on Greenland will require alliance allies to strengthen Arctic security. <em>&ldquo;I have no doubt that we can do this quite quickly. Of course, I hope for 2026, hopefully even early 2026,&rdquo;</em> he said in an interview with Reuters.</p>

            
    <blockquote>
        <span><strong>Read more</strong></span>
        <figure>
            <img alt="RT" src="https://mf.b37mrtl.ru/files/2026.02/thumbnail/69835d7a20302728cd36b791.jpg" />
            <figcaption><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/631971-nato-arctic-greenland-russia/">NATO increasing military presence in Arctic</a></figcaption>
        </figure>
    </blockquote>


    

<p>The framework agreement in question was discussed by Rutte with Trump on January 21 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. According to media reports, it is envisaged that Denmark will retain sovereignty over Greenland, but the US will be able to build military bases on the island with ownership rights. The Danish authorities maintain that the NATO secretary-general did not have the authority to conduct such negotiations.</p>
<p>The process of changing Greenland&rsquo;s status in the mid-20th century became one of the most illustrative examples of how a small state managed to exploit international legal mechanisms and geopolitical circumstances to maintain control over a territory formally considered a colony.</p>
<p>Greenland in 2026 confirms a trend: small resource territories are becoming arenas for <em>&ldquo;resource neocolonialism,&rdquo;</em> where the US, through Trump, imposes hybrid control, the EU lags behind, and Russia and China respond symmetrically. The sovereignty of small actors is vulnerable to climate and minerals, making the Arctic a new pole of multipolarity. Greenland&rsquo;s energy potential &ndash; from hydrocarbons to rare earth elements &ndash; remains more of a strategic asset than an immediate economic driver due to technological, environmental, and political barriers requiring multibillion-dollar investments and international cooperation.</p>
<p>With Arctic ice melting and resource diplomacy escalating, the island could become the catalyst for a new Arctic Cold War, with priority shifting from oil to minerals for decarbonization. Prospects depend on the balance between Greenland&rsquo;s independence, Denmark&rsquo;s alliance commitments, and global sustainable development norms. A realistic scenario is a partnership with the West for phased extraction over the medium term, with the risk of escalation if Trump&rsquo;s pressure becomes coercion.</p>
<p>Ultimately, Greenland illustrates the paradox of modern geoeconomics: resources hidden beneath the ice threaten to melt not only the climate but also established alliances, requiring global policymakers to take strategic foresight for the sake of collective security.</p>

Extracted Facts (event_facts)

{
  "translated_title": "特朗普谋求格陵兰资源控制权，北极地缘竞争加剧",
  "theme": "US Politics",
  "event_type": "politics",
  "commodity_sector": "",
  "summary": "特朗普重返白宫后，提出对格陵兰岛“全面且无限期访问”及潜在吞并计划，引发国际关注。格陵兰拥有未开发的石油、稀土等战略资源，但面临环境、基础设施和政治约束，成为美、中、俄等大国在北极竞争的关键焦点。",
  "key_facts": [
    "特朗普提议对格陵兰岛进行“全面且无限期访问”，并讨论向每位居民支付百万美元及吞并计划。",
    "格陵兰岛拥有未开发的石油储备（估计达300亿桶）和稀土金属资源，但缺乏基础设施，开发需数十亿美元投资。",
    "中国通过澳大利亚公司Greenland Minerals计划在格陵兰开采稀土，曾参与机场建设投标（价值近5.5亿美元），但被丹麦干预阻止。",
    "美国视格陵兰为国家安全关键，特朗普在2024年威胁军事接管，引发欧洲国家担忧并讨论加强北极军事存在。",
    "北约秘书长马克·吕特与特朗普达成协议，要求盟友加强北极安全，目标在2026年早期实施，但丹麦当局质疑其谈判权限。",
    "格陵兰自2009年起控制本地资源，但外交和国防仍属丹麦管辖，其主权在气候和资源竞争下面临压力。",
    "欧盟于2023年与格陵兰签署合作协议，资助钼矿项目，但被指在战略资源控制上落后于美中。",
    "北极冰融加速，格陵兰资源（如稀土用于电动汽车和风电）成为大国争夺焦点，可能引发新冷战。"
  ],
  "mentioned_commodities": [],
  "data_points": [
    {
      "name": "格陵兰石油估计储量",
      "value": 30,
      "unit": "十亿桶",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "美国估计，冰川和大陆架下隐藏多达300亿桶石油"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jameson Land Basin石油潜在储量",
      "value": 4,
      "unit": "十亿桶",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "项目潜在储量40亿桶"
    },
    {
      "name": "中国机场投标项目成本",
      "value": 550,
      "unit": "百万美元",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "2018年中国公司参与格陵兰机场建设投标，估计成本近5.5亿美元"
    },
    {
      "name": "特朗普提议居民支付金额",
      "value": 1,
      "unit": "百万美元/人",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "特朗普讨论向每位格陵兰居民支付百万美元"
    },
    {
      "name": "北约北极安全强化目标年份",
      "value": 2026,
      "unit": "年",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "北约秘书长希望2026年早期实施北极安全协议"
    },
    {
      "name": "中国稀土出口控制年份",
      "value": 2025,
      "unit": "年",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "2025年中国对某些稀土元素实施出口控制"
    },
    {
      "name": "欧盟与格陵兰合作协议年份",
      "value": 2023,
      "unit": "年",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "2023年欧盟与格陵兰签署合作协议"
    },
    {
      "name": "特朗普威胁军事接管年份",
      "value": 2024,
      "unit": "年",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "2024年特朗普威胁军事接管格陵兰"
    },
    {
      "name": "格陵兰资源控制权转移年份",
      "value": 2009,
      "unit": "年",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "2009年格陵兰获得本地资源控制权"
    },
    {
      "name": "格陵兰自治授予年份",
      "value": 1979,
      "unit": "年",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "1979年丹麦授予格陵兰自治"
    },
    {
      "name": "丹麦主权获得年份",
      "value": 1933,
      "unit": "年",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "1933年丹麦获得格陵兰主权"
    },
    {
      "name": "新许可证暂停年份",
      "value": 2021,
      "unit": "年",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "2021年因气候问题暂停新许可证"
    },
    {
      "name": "活跃矿山数量",
      "value": 9,
      "unit": "个",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "二战以来仅9个活跃矿山开业"
    },
    {
      "name": "当前运营矿山数量",
      "value": 2,
      "unit": "个",
      "direction": "unknown",
      "context": "目前仅2个矿山运营：White Mountain和Nalunaq"
    }
  ],
  "uncertainty_notes": [
    "特朗普“全面且无限期访问”计划的具体条款和可行性未明确说明。",
    "格陵兰稀土资源的经济可行性和开采时间表缺乏详细数据。",
    "北约与特朗普协议的法律效力和实施细节存在争议，丹麦当局质疑其权限。",
    "中国在格陵兰的稀土项目进展和投资规模未提供最新信息。",
    "北极冰融对资源开采的具体影响和气候政策变化未量化。"
  ]
}

Politics Refiner