"Greenland's harsh environment, lack of key infrastructure and difficult geology have so far prevented anyone from building a mine to extract the sought-after rare earth elements that many high-tech products require. Even if President Donald Trump prevails in his effort to take control of the Arctic island, those challenges won't go away. Trump has prioritized breaking China's stranglehold on the global supply of rare earths ever since the world's number two economy sharply restricted who could buy them after the United States imposed widespread tariffs"
"Some companies are trying anyway, but their efforts to unearth some of the 1.5 million tons of rare earths encased in rock in Greenland generally haven't advanced beyond the exploratory stage. Trump's fascination with the island nation may be more about countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic than securing any of the hard-to-pronounce elements like neodymium and terbium that are used to produce the high-powered magnets needed"
Greenland holds roughly 1.5 million tons of rare earths encased in rock, but harsh climate, lack of infrastructure and difficult geology have prevented construction of a commercial mine. Recent U.S. efforts aim to reduce dependence on Chinese-controlled rare-earth supply, including investments and stakes in companies, and political interest in Greenland as a strategic asset. Exploration projects remain largely preliminary, and potential production could take years or may never materialize. Geopolitical motives, including countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic, appear as prominent drivers behind plans to pursue Greenland rather than immediate supply solutions for high-tech industries.
Read at Fortune
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