How the US could take over Greenland and the potential challenges | Metals Mine

  • How the US could take over Greenland and the potential challenges

    From apnews.com

    U.S. President Donald Trump wants to own Greenland. He has repeatedly said the United States must take control of the strategically located and mineral-rich island, which is a semiautonomous region that’s part of NATO ally Denmark. Officials from Denmark, Greenland and the United States met Thursday in Washington and will meet again next week to discuss a renewed push by the White House, which is considering a range of options, including using military force, to acquire the island. Trump said Friday he is going to do “something on Greenland, whether they like it or not.” If it’s not done “the easy way, ... (full story)

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The Fool
Jan 10, 2026 12:26pm
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Classic "art of the deal" Trump. Make lots of noise and threats to soften up the counterparty and then settle for something less drastic. However, it might be more likely that absolute control of Greenland is the goal, so that the anti-mining regulation can be scrapped, making way for total plunder of uranium and re minerals. Trump is settling in to his new role as King of the Western hemisphere, so I wouldn't be surprised by anything.

AI Overview
Greenland holds significant uranium resources, primarily concentrated in the massive Kvanefjeld deposit (Kuannersuit) in the south, which also contains valuable rare earth elements (REEs) crucial for green tech, but mining faces major hurdles due to strict local laws banning uranium mining over 100 ppm and environmental concerns about radioactive waste. The Kvanefjeld site alone holds vast quantities of uranium (hundreds of thousands of tonnes) and REEs like neodymium and terbium, making it globally significant, but strong local opposition and environmental regulations have halted development despite its economic potential.

Key Uranium Resource: Kvanefjeld
Location: Part of the Ilímaussaq intrusive complex in South Greenland, near the town of Narsaq.
Significance: One of the world's largest undeveloped deposits of both rare earths and uranium, attracting international interest.
Composition: Uranium is found alongside valuable heavy rare earths (like dysprosium, terbium) and other minerals, often in minerals like Steenstrupine.

Resource Estimates: Contains hundreds of thousands of tonnes of uranium, with deposits classified as proven, probable, and total identified resources.

Challenges & Regulations
Uranium Ban: Greenland's parliament banned mining projects with uranium concentrations over 100 parts per million (ppm), directly impacting Kvanefjeld (which averages around 300-350 ppm).
Local Opposition: Residents near Narsaq fear radioactive dust and tailings contaminating water and farms, hindering development.
Environmental Concerns: Processing complex ores with radioactive elements poses environmental risks, leading to strict regulations.

Status
Despite its vast potential to supply critical minerals for the global energy transition, the Kvanefjeld project has been effectively blocked by the uranium mining ban, despite ongoing legal challenges from the mining company.
Vancarbon
Jan 10, 2026 1:09pm
Permalink
I’m going to let you know from an external perspective the US is quickly slipping down the rankings in the “ Trustworthy and reliable allies status “ ; from a European point of view .

It appears to be a divide and conquer situation; whilst blurting the “ military might “ narrative .

In this Global context the US appears to think it can go it alone; please take the baton and run with the narrative and watch the dominoes fall . Somehow European ( so called leaders) were coerced into falling inline with the Maduro kidnap ; no breaking of ranks here Sir

This outlandish proposal ; irrespective of any political spin by the administration or media simply won’t cut it .

Careful what you wish for US ; all eyes on you . What’s your opening gambit ?

We’re all watching .
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ffghost
Jan 10, 2026 2:58pm
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Quoting Vancarbon
I’m going to let you know from an external perspective the US is quickly slipping down the rankings in the “ Trustworthy and reliable allies status “ ; from a European point of view . It appears to be a divide and conquer situation; whilst blurting the “ military might “ narrative . In this Global context the US appears to think it can go it alone; please take the baton and run with the narrative and watch the dominoes fall . Somehow European ( so called leaders) were coerced into falling inline with the Maduro kidnap...
From the article it is likely this, this, and only this....

"But he suggested that’s unlikely because Greenland is “handy” to the U.S president.

When Trump wants to change the news agenda — including distracting from domestic political problems — “he can just say the word ‘Greenland’ and this starts all over again,” Gad said."


...that's the "marketing"/"misdirection" angle

Alternatively., Trump may want to write his name into the history books as the president who added the most land to the US. That's the "ego" argument.

The other side of the coin is "say we want to buy/take the whole thing and then 'settle' on am unlimited access to XYZ areas for whatever purposes we want"...which is so typical of politics (just watch what happens with the US defense budget and the crazy $1.5T figure that was recently thrown out there.

All are plausible. No one really knows what goes on in his head of course, just like no one can really know any our minds if we choose to disallow it

Come to think of it, maybe the next step is just to make Denmark the 51st state. Get Greenland 'for free'. I mean, he tried with Canada...Denmark should be much easier.....riiiiiight???
Reply
ffghost
Jan 10, 2026 4:31pm
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Quoting Vancarbon
{quote} That’s the issue here ; he simply can’t say or justify anything he spouts . It’s preposterous and outrageous to even consider taking by force ( if necessary ) another country who is under the jurisdiction of a NATO country . What is this idiot thinking ; perhaps he’s not , merely a puppet with his strings pulled. This will cause ructions and reverberate around the globe if the US attempts it . Trump 1 was fun to a degree , Trump 2 is bloody dangerous . He’s on a mission; both revengeful and egocentric. Where...
Hard to put any checks in place when you have both the executive and legislative branch. Both sides will blame the other for, well, everything, but in this case, I guess you (foreigners) could blame the Democrats for not electing enough congressional representatives to counterbalance the executive branch. Then again, this administration seems to shoot first and ask questions later. The judicial branch is SUPPOSED to be the ultimate "check" to the balance of power, but things take time in government.....the executive branch of this administration moves too quickly. 10 "wrongs" before the first item of concern can be addressed. 10 more before the second. There's just no way to keep up unless tactics are changed...and that is unlikely to happen when the "offending" party controls multiple branches of government.

To be fair, most (generic term, I know, but SO many outlandish things have been proposed, the term still qualifies) of the crazy proposals have simply been wild rhetoric created to cause discord. Canada as the 51st state, etc.

I (all-knowing, all-powerful I....*sarcasm there if people can't tell....because I know next to NOTHING about the situation) just see no way the US could "take" Greenland by military force. If that is possible, at this point in history, I going to lose all faith in democracy. Doing so without ample justification is simple dictatorship. Enough of this country (Republicans and Democrats alike) would be up in arms. Congress has to run for reelection this summer. Even Republicans don't, in most cases, want such a controversial albatross around their necks....especially in tight districts.

Trump 2.0 has certainly made waves, but there is a finite amount of time left.... (links to count down)
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ffghost
Jan 11, 2026 1:01pm
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Quoting Ravenfeeder
{quote} wow, there's even a link to a countdown of how long until he leaves office? It could be sooner if he gets impeached again, let's hope a year gets slashed off the waiting period
Haha, if I had to guess, I would say these sites launched within minutes of the election results
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Aussi
Jan 10, 2026 11:31pm
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Attached Image (click to enlarge)
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Nordling
Jan 10, 2026 1:09pm
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Quoting Ferna
{quote} That's stupid for more than one reason: One of the world's largest cold currents are in that area. It could pollute the whole food chain of the Atlantic ocean and make fish uneatable.
That's why your stupid Trump wants it though. Stupid is what stupid does
Reply
Vancarbon
Jan 11, 2026 3:15am
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Yeah , nothing like the myth of Capitalism designed by effect ; its inherent production of inequality and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few .

The truth is modern societies are a combination of Capitalism and Socialism , it’s still beneficial to the few to maintain the characteristics and charade that all benefit under Capitalism .

Look at the wealth divide and explain that in terms of equality .

“Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion.”

Albert Einstein
Reply
Ravenfeeder
Jan 10, 2026 9:36pm
Permalink
Quoting ffghost
{quote} Hard to put any checks in place when you have both the executive and legislative branch. Both sides will blame the other for, well, everything, but in this case, I guess you (foreigners) could blame the Democrats for not electing enough congressional representatives to counterbalance the executive branch. Then again, this administration seems to shoot first and ask questions later. The judicial branch is SUPPOSED to be the ultimate "check" to the balance of power, but things take time in government.....the executive branch of this...
wow, there's even a link to a countdown of how long until he leaves office? It could be sooner if he gets impeached again, let's hope a year gets slashed off the waiting period
Reply
Ravenfeeder
Jan 11, 2026 1:40pm
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Quoting ffghost
{quote} Haha, if I had to guess, I would say these sites launched within minutes of the election results
Too funny!

What we need is someone to take his Truth profile pic and add a Hitler moustache to it. It will be more effective than a 1000 words.
Reply
ffghost
Jan 11, 2026 1:10pm
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Quoting Vancarbon
“Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave evils, namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion.”

Albert Einstein

Meh, Einstein just said that because he was a wonderful scientific mind, but terrible at business/monetizing his knowledge. I mean, once you introduce lambda and lock your worldview into a static universe, the game's over....am I right?? *obviously joking here*

Pure socialism can't work because people are greedy. There's always going to be someone/some class of people wanting "more". Capitalism pushes back on this via taxes, attempting to keep the runaway wealth disparities in check, but you can only do so much before risking economic downfall. You see it all the time here in the US: businesses shift from states with higher taxes/restrictions to those offering lower taxes/fewer regulations. The same occurs between countries, though it's a bit tougher to abandon the federal government of the US than the state government of, say, IL or NY.M
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ffghost
Jan 11, 2026 4:01pm
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Quoting Ravenfeeder
{quote} Too funny! What we need is someone to take his Truth profile pic and add a Hitler moustache to it. It will be more effective than a 1000 words.
I imagine those pics were created BEFORE the election results.....of 2016 :-P
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ciptrader
Jan 10, 2026 4:17pm
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Quoting Ferna
{quote} That's stupid for more than one reason: One of the world's largest cold currents are in that area. It could pollute the whole food chain of the Atlantic ocean and make fish uneatable.
Living in Europe I can tell you Denmark and big players in EU it’s getting ready to protect Greenland.
Reply
Schultz
Jan 11, 2026 4:18am
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Quoting Vancarbon
Yeah , nothing like the myth of Capitalism designed by effect ; its inherent production of inequality and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few . The truth is modern societies are a combination of Capitalism and Socialism , it’s still beneficial to the few to maintain the characteristics and charade that all benefit under Capitalism . Look at the wealth divide and explain that in terms of equality . “Capitalism as it exists today is, in my opinion, the real source of evils. I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate these grave...
Oh, is this going to be open season on the relative characteristics and merits or otherwise of differing ownership and organisational structures of economies?

I have to take every item out of all my cupboards and sort them in alphabetical order. Then stare at the wall.
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chali3388
Jan 10, 2026 5:23pm
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very good trump keep it up Greenland
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Trader#A9DD
Jan 10, 2026 6:21pm
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Trump can take Greenland and no one will do anything. The markets will no react significantly. China wants him to do it for obvious reasons, Russia has their hands full and doesn’t care enough to do anything. The EU is just a bunch of relatively irrelevant countries run by weak people who couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag. You don’t have to believe me, it will happen and you will see for yourself.
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Trader#971C
Jan 10, 2026 6:33pm
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Quoting ciptrader
{quote} Living in Europe I can tell you Denmark and big players in EU it’s getting ready to protect Greenland.
That’s hilarious. Getting ready to write a strongly worded letter, that’s about it. The EU can’t go to war with the US, they know that very well. The uneducated masses living there might not know that, but the leaders know they never spent any real money on the military so it’s simply impossible.

Not to metion the fact that the EU doesn’t have enough power generation, to go it alone, and obviously not enough to go to war with anyone. Trump doesn’t care if NATO falls apart, he’s said it many times. He knows it gives China and Russia permission to take parts of the EU but that’s fine with him. He said very specifically that he doesn’t consider Europe an ally anymore.
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MosimaPaul
Jan 10, 2026 8:21pm
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The US and NATO at war? oh boy.. the world will laugh so hard.
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vinnu-yadav
Jan 11, 2026 3:14am
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Haa stupid always wanna attack natos area which is under ice area which may be pollute then alla re may ged die from shortage of food???
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Trader#6A09
Jan 10, 2026 11:50am
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All hail supreme leader trump
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Trader#61ED
Jan 10, 2026 11:50pm
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I smell taco
Reply
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