By Scott North, Corporate Development Manager, Kingsrose
Greenland is sounding the alarm — and the West needs to pay attention.
The Arctic nation holds 25 of the EU’s 34 officially recognized critical minerals, along with some of the largest rare earth reserves in the world. These resources are vital to everything from electric vehicles and wind turbines to defense systems and semiconductors. In short, Greenland is sitting on a green goldmine. Yet, despite this immense strategic value, Western investment has barely scratched the surface, while China is quietly waiting for its chance.
Earlier this year, Greenland issued its first mining license under a newly reformed mining code — a €150 million anorthosite project backed by a Danish-French consortium. This is more than just a permit; it’s a signal that Greenland is open for business and looking for reliable, democratic partners to develop its vast mineral wealth.
But there’s a warning embedded in Greenland’s message to the world: “We’d prefer to work with the West. But if you don’t show up, we have other options.”
Right now, Chinese involvement in Greenland is minimal — limited to just two minority stakes in inactive projects. But that could change quickly. China already controls over 90% of global rare earth refining capacity, a dominance that has left Europe and the United States vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. The idea of China extending that control into Greenland should raise red flags in every Western capital.
And yet, despite all the rhetoric — from the Trump administration’s headline-grabbing (if awkward) offer to buy Greenland, to European initiatives aimed at securing supply chains — there has been little real follow-through.
This is more than just a mining issue. It’s a geopolitical test of whether the West is serious about building secure, sustainable supply chains for the energy transition. Greenland’s resources could play a key role in breaking China’s stranglehold on critical minerals — but only if we act now.
Let’s be clear: the window is open, but it won’t stay that way forever. If the U.S. and Europe fail to respond, China won’t hesitate to move in.
Greenland is offering a hand — not just to access minerals, but to forge a strategic partnership grounded in shared values and mutual benefit. The question is: Will the West step up before it’s too late?
— Scott North is Corporate Development Manager at Kingsrose Mining and a global investor in exploration and development companies. He regularly contributes to conversations on mining strategy, critical minerals, and geopolitics.
