Greenland minister rejects US overtures to purchase the territory – DW – 01/09/2026 | EUROtoday

Greenland’s minister for mining and enterprise Naaja Nathanielsen rejected US overtures to purchase the territory, saying residents ought to decide its future, together with that of its priceless sources.

“We want collaboration. We don’t want to be Americans,” she informed DW. “And there’s a great, great difference in that.”

Nathanielsen mentioned the federal government is debating how you can collaborate with the US however that it was “too soon to say” what type any discussions may take. The US is about to fulfill with Denmark subsequent week to debate its curiosity within the island. Greenland could have a consultant on the assembly.

Greenland’s strategic place as a gateway to the Arctic has made it more and more engaging to the US because the area turns into extra accessible. But President Donald Trump has additionally pointed to the huge mineral wealth below the territory, which incorporates iron ore and gold in addition to uncommon earth metals. Greenland’s 36 million tons of uncommon earths would rival Chinese reserves if made accessible.

Repeated warnings to Greenland

Reuters reported on Friday that the Trump administration is contemplating providing lump sum funds of between $10,000 and $100,000 per particular person to Greenlanders to persuade them to affix the US.

Trump and senior advisor Stephen Miller have additionally steered the US may take the island by army drive. US Vice President JD Vance warned Europe to take Trump’s warnings significantly.

Greenland is an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark, which pays an annual subsidy to the island.

Nathanielsen mentioned the territory want to finish its reliance on the grant because it pursues sovereignty however that mining revenues would take time to build up.

“We have a lot of activity, but mining is very slow business,” she mentioned. “But we see a lot of positive development this year, and we do have expectations that many of the projects will move forward within the next couple of years.”

There are presently two lively mines in Greenland, producing gold and the mineral anorthosite, which is used to make home windows, paints and coatings. A Danish-French enterprise, Greenland Anorthosite, obtained permission final yr to start mining, whereas an American-backed agency, Critical Metals, is constructing a pilot to extract uncommon earth metals.

Nathanielsen mentioned there aren’t any initiatives with Chinese or Russian backing. She mentioned an express ban on sure nations’ backing is being mentioned in overseas direct funding laws earlier than the parliament however that she discovered the talk “difficult.”

“I could say, ‘Yes, we want to prohibit,’” Nathanielsen mentioned. “But would that make sure we were not invaded or bought? I don’t know if that’s the case.”

She mentioned Greenland understood it falls throughout the US sphere of curiosity and that it most well-liked to develop its sources with “like-minded” nations, together with the US, UK, European Union, Australia and Canada, however by itself volition.

“There needs to be respect that it’s the Greenland people who decide what happens in Greenland,” she mentioned.

Edited by: Jess Smee