Trump keeps threatening Greenland and says that the US must control/own Greenland for ‘national security’ which is the term he uses as justification for almost every action he takes – legal or illegal. However, like most things Trump does, there is the rhetoric and then there is the real underlying reason for the action. When most people think of ‘national security’ they think of military bases, aircraft carriers, submarines, and missile defense systems. Those are certainly a big part of the equation. There is another aspect of national security that often flies under the radar and, in some cases, is more important than all the visible indications mentioned above. I believe that is exactly the case in Trump’s obsession with Greenland.
Greenland has a wealth of untapped rare earth elements (REE) that are vital to many parts of modern-day technology. Rare earth elements are a group of 17 metallic elements that are of strategic importance for their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties. Electric vehicles require 1 to 2 Kg (2 to 5 lbs.) of neodymium and praseodymium per vehicle. Wind turbines use up to 1,500 lbs. of RRE for permanent magnet generators. Precision guided munitions require specialized REE compounds. And smart phones account for about 8% of the global REE consumption.
Right now, China controls 80% of the market for REE. They have already threatened to withhold selling REEs to the United States in response to Trump’s tariff tirades and imposition. It is a real Achilles heel for the United States. The United States needs to find other sources of these REEs so it is no longer so dependent upon China.
In addition, since these REEs have become so important to modern-day technologies, the market for these products is huge. The market for Neodymium is estimated to be $3.5 billion. The market size for Praseodymium is estimated to be $1.2 billion. The market for all 17 of the REEs is in the billions of dollars.
When Trump talks about the need to own or control Greenland for reasons of national security, this is the real reason. The objective is to get control over Greenland’s natural resources to wean us off dependence on China’s REEs and to let American companies go in and extract these REEs and make huge profits in the process.
Given that Denmark, which currently has control of Greenland, is a NATO ally, one would think the United States could sit down with our ‘friends’ and negotiate a reasonable win-win agreement. However, we know that Trump believes that climate change is a hoax and he does not give one hoot about the ecosystem of Greenland which is already under threat from global warming. He wants to own it outright so American companies can plunder the country without having to bother with such things as environmental regulations and splitting the profits with others.
Imagine that Trump has a neighbor who has a pool in their backyard and he does not. His kids still get to use the pool sometimes when they are invited over. But as the kids get older Trump decides that his kids need access to the pool all the time because its ‘necessary for their health’ and, he says that his neighbor is not doing a good job of maintaining the pool so it has become a health hazard. So, instead of talking to his neighbor who he has known for years, he simply tears down the fence between the two properties, declares that he has annexed the area of their backyard with the pool, and it is now his pool. Not only that, but he will also now charge their kids to swim in the pool he just stole from them. This is the Trump solution to the pool problem. This is exactly what is going on in Greenland.
Don’t be fooled by the national security rhetoric coming from Trump and his minions. Venezuela is about the oil and letting American oil companies plunder the country for billions of dollars. Greenland is about REEs and letting American mining companies plunder Greenland for billions of dollars. American imperialism is alive and well.
