Trump's Greenland bid to break China's rare earth grip falls short

The article discusses former President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland as a strategic move to reduce U.S. dependence on China for rare earth elements, which are vital for modern technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and military hardware. Trump has framed Greenland as a geopolitical necessity to prevent Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic and has even suggested military action if Denmark refuses to sell the territory. However, experts emphasize that Greenland’s harsh environment, lack of infrastructure, and complex geology make mining rare earth elements there extremely challenging and costly, with no commercial mines currently operational despite significant estimated deposits. Greenland’s remoteness means mining companies would need to build infrastructure from scratch, including roads, power generation, and housing for skilled workers. Environmental risks also pose a major hurdle, as rare earth extraction involves toxic chemicals and potential radioactive contamination, threatening Greenland’s fragile Arctic ecosystem and its growing tourism industry. Compared to other global supply options, Greenland remains a risky and long-term prospect rather than a quick solution to