Greenland Signs 30-Year Minerals Deal with Europe, Rejecting U.S. Offers

Greenland has granted a 30-year mining license to a Danish-French consortium, Greenland Anorthosite Mining (GAM), to extract anorthosite, a mineral critical for aluminum production and used in industries such as fiberglass manufacturing. This decision marks a significant setback for former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had expressed strong interest in acquiring Greenland to access its rich mineral, oil, and natural gas resources. Despite visits by U.S. delegations and private business groups, Greenland's government highlighted that no formal dialogue or financial commitments from the U.S. government have materialized, contrasting with more advanced business negotiations with European partners. Greenland's Mineral Resources Minister Naaja Nathanielsen emphasized that the island is not for sale and that the European deal reflects Greenland's autonomous approach to managing its resources. The U.S. continues to express interest in Greenland for strategic and security reasons, but Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected any U.S. acquisition attempts. The agreement with the European consortium underlines Greenland's preference for partnerships that respect its sovereignty and long-term investment goals.