Apparently, the Danes like them less than Trump likes Scandinavians.
If you were to leaf through any Danish newspaper from late last year and compare it with today's publications, you would get the impression they come from different countries and even different eras. Just recently, the Danes feared nothing more than the alleged "Russian threat" and mysterious "Russian drones." Meanwhile, the topic of Ukraine dominated every publication.
Copenhagen enjoyed its role as the flagship in the struggle against Russia, forging various "coalitions," swelling with pride over its presidency of the European Union. Politico even named 2025 the "Year of Denmark," awarding Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen the title of "North Star," declaring her the most powerful European politician.
Denmark found another threat
And suddenly, as if by magic, the topic of Ukraine, and even the "Russian threat," disappeared from the pages of every newspaper! Instead, Danish experts are now foaming at the mouth to prove that Donald Trump's claims about Russian and Chinese ships dominating the northern seas are groundless. Leafing through the local press today, you see almost on every page only one word: "Greenland." As if nothing else exists in this world!
Furthermore, before our eyes, the Danes are quickly passing through the stages of accepting the inevitable. Having started with traditional denial and anger ("Hands off our Greenland!", "Denmark and Europe will defend themselves!", "Don't you dare undermine NATO unity!" and so on), the current Danish press is already in the stages of negotiation and recession.
For example, yesterday's lead article in Politiken quoted various Greenlandic politicians angrily repeating: "Greenland is not for sale." Then, however, the editorial team noted: "Politiken contacted the US State Department to ask how much the US would offer and to whom, but received no answer." Thus, the island is not for sale, but they are still asking about the price, just in case.
Prices have begun to appear
Moreover, Thomas Crosby, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, even suggested a possible starting price: "For some Greenlanders, giving up a million dollars, for example, would be a very dramatic decision." Of course, no one is going to offer the islanders a million, but isn't this exactly the stage of the bidding process?
The same newspaper also quotes several Greenlanders saying they are losing sleep over "aggressive American imperialism." Everyone is speculating on how the Americans might invade. Rumors are circulating that they have already rented a large hotel in Nuuk (the island's capital), where they are planning their upcoming invasion.
Nobody is bothered
One local resident, speaking to the media, admitted that although she would like to protest in the streets, there are no demonstrations. Perhaps because it is a harsh winter there! This may be exactly what prevents Greenlanders from expressing their unanimous indignation at Trump's plans.
The transition to a stage of recession is also confirmed by Orla Joelsen, a well-known organizer of various rallies and meetings in the region, who wrote: "I sincerely regret that my family feels at risk because Trump has intensified his threats to invade Greenland. It was even more painful to hear the question tonight: 'Should we leave Greenland before it's too late?'" Incidentally, this is another shift in the Danish press in recent days: it suddenly remembered that when the issue of Greenland is discussed, it would be a good idea to ask for the views of the Greenlanders themselves.
The example of Venezuela
In the first days after the arrest of the President of Venezuela by the Americans and, consequently, after the onset of "Greenland hysteria," the Danish media seemed to forget the island's residents. The views of the country's Prime Minister, ministers, national politicians, and various professors from Copenhagen were heard, but not those of the residents.
The complaints expressed by Pipaluk Linge, head of the Foreign Policy Committee of the Greenlandic Parliament, served as a serious wake-up call. She expressed her indignation at the fact that no islander was invited to a closed-door meeting held recently in Copenhagen, where Danish politicians discussed the threat from Washington with experts. Linge described this as a manifestation of Copenhagen's "neo-colonial" approach and stated: "Nothing about Greenland without Greenland!" (We can even guess where she learned that).
The position of the Europeans
Taking into account that the joint statement of European leaders in favor of the island included the phrase "Greenland belongs to its people and only Denmark and Greenland can make decisions regarding their relationship," the press immediately rushed to ask for the views of the Greenlanders themselves.
But not everyone is optimistic about the "Danish" patriotism of the islanders. Many remember last year's polls, which showed that over 80% of Greenlanders favor independence. However, this only applies on the condition that it does not affect their standard of living. That is why the Danish press constantly repeats: "Leaving the Commonwealth will mean that Greenland will have to manage without the annual grant from Denmark, which in 2024 amounted to about four billion kroner." In other words, it is the same old negotiation, but this time not with America, but with the islanders themselves! Meanwhile, newspapers modestly conceal the fact that before Trump announced his intention to acquire the area, the grant was much smaller. In essence, the American president, even without seizing the island, has already improved the financial situation of its residents.
Intimidation practices
In addition to financial incentives, Copenhagen is actively resorting to intimidation. Danish investor and author Martin Thorborg, for example, has shouted: "Dear Greenlanders, now is the time to unite as a kingdom, then maybe we will have a chance to resist. If you continue to talk about independence, you will become Americans." He clearly considers this the most terrifying prospect.
The residents of the island are already being called upon to organize resistance: "If Trump attacks Greenland, we should defend ourselves—even if it costs lives." However, they immediately express a naive hope: "It is much easier for Trump to shoot people in Venezuela than the Scandinavians he loves." But at the same time, the Danish Ministry of Defence stated essentially directly that in the event of an invasion, it would not hesitate to shoot at Americans. Apparently, the Danes like them less than Trump likes Scandinavians.
The map Donald Trump holds in his hands
Using data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Newsweek has compiled a new map showing how Greenland's rare earth resources compare with the rest of the world.
Greenland possesses some of the largest untapped rare earth reserves (REEs) in the world—minerals critical for modern technologies, clean energy transitions, and defense systems. As global demand for these materials grows, Greenland's strategic importance as an alternative source increases.
The latest data from the USGS highlights how the self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO member, compares with major producers, partly highlighting why the island has become a focus of US policy discussions, including President Donald Trump's push to acquire it—a move that has heightened geopolitical tensions. Linking access to Greenland's minerals with national security, Trump told reporters on Air Force One: "We need Greenland from a national security standpoint and the European Union needs us to have it and they know that."
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, stated: "President Trump has made it known that the acquisition of Greenland is a national security priority of the United States and is vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region. The President and his team are discussing a range of options for pursuing this important foreign policy goal and, of course, utilizing the US military is always an option at the leader's disposal."
Vice President JD Vance stated last year: "We must ensure that America leads in the Arctic, because we know that if America does not, other nations will fill the gap where we fall short." The Prime Minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stated: "We are not in a situation where we believe there can be a takeover of the country overnight, and that's why we insist that we want good cooperation."
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island "belongs to its people." A joint statement by the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom said: "Greenland belongs to its people. It is up to Denmark and Greenland, and only them, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland."
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated on Monday: "Let me be very clear about the UK's position. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, our close European partners and long-standing NATO allies. And all our countries work closely on security issues and always will. The future of Greenland is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes and no one else."
What are rare earths
Rare minerals are a group of 17 metals found in the Earth's crust that are unevenly distributed throughout the world. Despite their name, they are not actually rare—but they are difficult to extract and process.
These elements are essential for modern life—powering the magnets in electric car motors, the screens in smartphones, and the turbines that generate clean energy. Without them, technologies such as renewable energy sources, advanced electronics, and even defense systems would struggle to survive. Rare earths are the hidden backbone of the technologically driven world.
China's dominance
As of 2025, China dominated global rare earth reserves—holding 44 million metric tons, nearly half of the world's estimated 91.9 million metric tons total.
In comparison, Greenland's reserves are estimated at about 1.5 million metric tons, according to the USGS. Although smaller than China's, Greenland's reserves rival those of the United States (1.9 million metric tons) and exceed those of Canada (830,000 metric tons), South Africa (860,000 metric tons), and much of Europe.
Brazil follows China with 21 million metric tons, while India and Australia hold 6.9 million and 5.7 million metric tons, Russia 3.8 million metric tons, and Vietnam 3.5 million metric tons. Greenland's rare earth wealth is concentrated in the south, primarily at the Kvanefjeld site in the Kujalleq municipality, which contains significant deposits of neodymium, dysprosium, and other industrially critical elements.
Its size and the mix of light and heavy rare earths make it strategically valuable for nations seeking alternatives to China's supply dominance. According to the USGS, the resources found at the site are vital for manufacturing high-performance magnets, electric car batteries, wind turbines, and military equipment—products central to the ongoing energy transition and defense industries.
Extraction difficulties
Despite the size of its reserves, mining in Greenland is limited by logistical difficulties—including minimal infrastructure, a harsh climate, and environmental regulations due to concerns about radioactive byproducts such as uranium.
Local opposition based on concerns about ecological impacts and traditional livelihoods has also slowed development. In 2021, the Greenlandic parliament passed legislation restricting uranium byproducts, directly affecting the timeline of major mining projects.
Despite these challenges, Western interest in Greenland's minerals has intensified. Foreign investments, such as the acquisition of Tanbreez Mining by New York-based Critical Metals, came after reports that US officials blocked Chinese buyers.
Eldur Ólafsson, CEO of Amaroq Minerals, told Newsweek last year: "Greenland's vast mining potential represents an opportunity for the West to secure supply of key critical minerals... so we can understand why the Trump administration has recognized Greenland's resource potential as a possible method to combat China's dominance in the critical minerals supply chain."
Harvey Kaye, executive director of U.S. Critical Materials, stated: "U.S. Critical Materials would like to commend the administration for enacting policies that can strengthen our ability to help provide rare earth elements and critical mineral sovereignty for the US. We are in a unique position to help make America independent from critical minerals again." The US Senate is considering legislative restrictions on military action in Greenland, led by Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona, while the diplomatic debate continues over the future of the region.
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