Greenland seeks closer EU ties through rare earths

In an exclusive interview with Politico, Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said the island is eager to deepen its relationship with the European Union by building new partnerships around critical minerals and energy.

Motzfeldt pointed to Greenland’s vast reserves of rare earth elements—around 40 of the 50 minerals classified as critical by the U.S.—as a major opportunity for cooperation with Europe, particularly as the EU looks to secure more sustainable and reliable sources of key raw materials.

The comments come amid renewed attention on Greenland’s geopolitical importance. Motzfeldt responded sharply to past remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about buying the island and to recent reports that U.S. intelligence agencies were ramping up espionage operations in the country.

“We’re supposed to be friends. We are allies. Allies don’t do such things,” she told Politico.

While welcoming U.S. investment in the mining sector, she made clear that Greenland’s political future lies firmly in the hands of its people—not foreign powers.

Motzfeldt also invited EU commissioners to visit Greenland to get a firsthand look at the country’s potential. With growing international interest in the Arctic, she said Greenland wants partnerships that respect its autonomy and help contribute to a greener global economy.