What is the Ukraine minerals deal – and why does Trump want it signed?

Ukraine says it has reached a “preliminary” deal to hand revenue from some of its critical mineral resources to the US, with preparations under way for Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit the White House to sign the agreement on Friday.

The announcement followed days of tense negotiations between Washington and Kyiv in which the Ukrainian president alleged the US was pressuring him to sign an earlier deal worth more than $500bn (£395bn) that he said would force 10 generations of his people to pay it back.

Trump declaration of Greenland framework deal met with scepticism amid tariff relief

Donald Trump’s announcement of a “framework of a future deal” that would settle the issue of Greenland after weeks of escalating threats has been met with profound scepticism from people in the Arctic territory, even as financial markets rebounded and European leaders welcomed a reprieve from further tariffs.

Just hours after the president used his speech at the World Economic Forum to insist he wanted Greenland, “including right, title and ownership,” but backed away from his more bellicose threats of military intervention – Trump took to social media to announce “the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland” and withdrew the threat of tariffs against eight European countries. He later called it “a concept of a deal” when he spoke to business network CNBC soon after Wall Street closed.

“The day ended better than it started,” said Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. “Now, let’s sit down and find out how we can address the American security concerns in the Arctic while respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark,” he said.

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, also welcomed Trump’s decision, but Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte, who negotiated Wednesday’s deal with Trump, issued a note of caution, saying there remained “a lot of work to be done”.

When asked by Fox News if Greenland would remain a part of the Kingdom of Denmark under the deal, Rutte said the issue had not come up, and offered few further details about the agreement. A Nato spokesperson later stated that Rutte did not propose any compromise on Greenland’s sovereignty during his talks with Trump.

Trump himself gave few further details on the agreement, but said talks were continuing concerning a US missile defence shield that would be in part based in Greenland.

But there was anger from some Danish MPs, including Sascha Faxe who was angered by Greenland’s exclusion from Wednesday’s negotiations.

“It’s not real negotiations; it’s two men who have had a conversation,” she told Sky News. “There can’t be a deal without having Greenland as part of the negotiations.”

According to media reports, the compromise deal could see the US granted sovereignty over small pockets of Greenland where military bases are located, with unnamed officials in the Telegraph comparing the proposal to the UK military’s bases in Cyprus, which are regarded as British territory.

The US already has extensive access to the territory, and under the terms of multiple agreements – some going back decades – has the option to widen that access by building bases and carrying out military activities.

The framework would also potentially allow the US to mine for rare earth minerals, without seeking permission from Denmark, according to the Telegraph.

It remains unclear whether Denmark has signed up to the deal, but on Wednesday night Aaja Chemnitz Larsen, a Greenlandic member of the Danish parliament, said that the idea that Nato should have anything to say about the territory’s sovereignty or minerals was “completely out of the question”.

After days of ratcheting tensions which signalled the deepest rupture in transatlantic relations in decades – and saw Canadian prime minister Mark Carney issue a stirring eulogy for the rules-based order on Tuesday – Trump’s reasons for apparently backing down remain unclear.

Sweden’s minister for foreign affairs, Maria Stenergard, said the work of Europe’s allies has “had an effect” and she reiterated that they would not be “blackmailed”.

The Dutch prime minister, Dick Schoof, called Trump’s decision to waive threatened tariffs against European allies a sign of “de-escalation”. Trump had threatened Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland with tariffs of 10% from 1 February over their opposition to the US takeover of Greenland.

Others pointed to wobbles on the financial markets, after Trump’s more hawkish comments on Greenland on Tuesday led to a sharp selloff on the US share markets. Global markets rebounded on Wednesday after Trump’s announced the framework deal and reneged his threat of tariffs.

“The market bounced when he said we wouldn’t use force,” said Mark Hackett, chief market strategist at Nationwide in Boston, while financial analyst Matthew Smart said “uncertainty just got priced out.”

Others noted that Trump has a history of making escalating threats, only to pull back when financial markets start falling. After he reined in his global trade war in April last year, following a rout in the markers, the Financial Times came up with the acronym “Taco” – “Trump Always Chickens Out” – to describe the phenomenon.

US publication Semafor reported that Trump appeared frustrated by the turn in the markets this week, and noted that his antagonism towards European allies came with huge risks.

“Countries like the UK, Belgium, and France hold trillions of dollars in US assets like treasuries. If they decide to sell those, it could send interest rates skyrocketing,” Semafor reported.

In Greenland however, Trump’s announcement was greeted with serious scepticism.

“He’s lying,” said one main in the capital Nuuk, who was interviewed by the AFP news agency.

That sentiment was shared by care worker Anak, who told AFP “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”

END

Trump says rare earths are part of his Greenland deal. It’s ‘completely bonkers’

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he reached a framework for a deal with NATO over the future of Greenland that will include rights to rare-earth minerals.

“They’re going to be involved in mineral rights, and so are we,” Trump said about NATO and the United States in an interview with CNBC after the initial announcement on Truth Social.

He didn’t specify any preliminary terms. But Greenland’s untapped mineral wealth has helped land the island at the top of Trump’s empire-building wish list.

Trump officials view Greenland’s underground riches as a way to loosen China’s stranglehold over the rare-earth metals that are critical for everything from fighter jets and lasers to electric vehicles and MRI scanners.

Trump has downplayed Greenland’s natural resources, including in his speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday, when he said acquiring rare-earth minerals wasn’t the reason America needed the territory.

“Everyone talks about the minerals. There’s so many,” Trump said. “There’s no such thing as rare earth. There’s rare processing. But there’s so much rare earth. And to get to this rare earth, you got to go through hundreds of feet of ice. That’s not the reason we need it. We need it for strategic national security and international security.”

But hours later, Trump said the deal for Greenland included two parts: his “Golden Dome” missile defense concept and minerals. That tracks with what his former national security adviser Mike Waltz told Fox News in 2024, when Waltz said that the administration’s focus on Greenland was “about critical minerals” and “natural resources.”

The reality is that Denmark’s ownership of Greenland is not what’s stopping the United States from tapping the island’s treasure trove. It’s the punishing Arctic environment.

‘Completely bonkers’

Not only that, but Greenland, a self-ruling territory of Denmark, lacks the infrastructure and manpower required to make this mining dream a reality.

“The idea of turning Greenland into America’s rare-earth factory is science fiction. It’s just completely bonkers,” said Malte Humpert, founder and senior fellow at The Arctic Institute. “You might as well mine on the moon. In some respects, it’s worse than the moon.”

Despite its name, approximately 80% of Greenland is covered with ice. And mineral extraction — or just about anything — in the Arctic can be five to 10 times more expensive than doing it elsewhere on the planet.

Trump’s interest in Greenland is not new — nor is he the first US president to covet the island.

For years, if not decades, officials in Greenland have courted foreign direct investment. People in Greenland say they already are open to business opportunities without any belligerence.

‘The pot of gold’ myth

Getting US businesses to take a chance on Greenland may be a fantasy, experts say.

“If there was a ‘pot of gold’ waiting at the end of the rainbow in Greenland, private businesses would have gone there already,” said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

However, Funk Kirkegaard, who previously worked with the Danish Ministry of Defense, said it’s just “very difficult” to make a business case for the very large upfront investment that would be required.

It’s possible Trump tries to provide financial incentives and guarantees to entice US companies to make those massive investments, similar to the guarantees that Big Oil is seeking to drill aggressively in Venezuela.

“If given enough taxpayer dollars, private business would be willing to do almost anything,” Funk Kirkegaard said. “But is that a good foundation on which to purchase a territory? The answer is no in Greenland, just as it’s no in Venezuela.”

Environmental factors

The climate crisis has caused melting ice and rapidly rising temperatures in the Arctic, leading some to hope for new economic opportunities.

However, it’s too early to say this will be enough of a game-changer to overcome the environmental challenges of mining in Greenland. While ice melt has opened up some shipping routes, it has also made the ground less stable to drill and raises the risk of landslides.

“Climate change doesn’t mean it’s easy. This is not the Mediterranean or your bathtub. There’s just less ice freeze,” said Humpert of The Arctic Institute.

Relatedly, Greenland’s stringent environmental regulations would add expense and difficulty to widespread mining.

Of course, those regulations reflect the local population’s desire to keep the environment pristine. If the Trump administration somehow made those regulations disappear, it might prove deeply unpopular.

“You could end up having a hostile local political situation,” Funk Kirkegaard said.

Friend or bully?

Adam Lajeunesse, chair in Canadian and Arctic policy at St. Francis Xavier University, said Trump’s “bizarre rhetoric” about taking over Greenland risks undermining the economic and strategic objectives US officials by harming the relationship with Greenland and Denmark.

“You could see the United States no longer viewed as a friend and partner but as a bully that should be resisted,” he said.

To some extent, this may already be happening.

Christian Keldsen, managing director of the Greenland Business Association, cautions US officials risk damaging the relationship with the local population.

“At the moment, everything American is a red flag,” he said. “Everyone is wondering, ‘Am I supporting someone taking over my country?’”

END

”Trump stelt dat het hem gaat om de veiligheid van de VS, maar deskundigen betwijfelen dit. Groenland heeft inderdaad een militair-strategische ligging, maar is ook rijk aan zeldzame grondstoffen.”

NOS

Vijf vragen over Groenland en waarom de VS het wil hebben

President Trump herhaalde het afgelopen nacht nogmaals: hij wil Groenland hebben. Het Witte Huis had eerder al eens gesuggereerd dat de VS militair geweld daarbij niet uitsluit.

Trump stelt dat het hem gaat om de veiligheid van de VS, maar deskundigen betwijfelen dit. Groenland heeft inderdaad een militair-strategische ligging, maar is ook rijk aan zeldzame grondstoffen. Het land is een autonoom deel van het koninkrijk Denemarken. Denemarken is lid van de NAVO, net als de VS.

In vijf vragen en antwoorden leggen we uit waar het de Amerikanen om gaat en of de grondstoffen van Groenland een grotere rol spelen.

Heeft de VS voet aan de grond in Groenland?

De VS is militair actief in Groenland sinds de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Toen wilden de Amerikanen voorkomen dat de Duitsers het eiland zouden aanvallen. Oude Amerikaanse bases op Groenland liggen er nog, sommige bedolven onder het ijs.

De VS heeft er ook nog een actieve militaire basis: Pituffik Space Base. Vanuit hier kan de VS ballistische raketten waarnemen die vanuit Rusland of Europa worden afgevuurd richting de VS.

Deze basis mag dankzij een verdrag uit 1951 worden uitgebreid wanneer de Amerikanen dat willen. Wel moet de Groenlandse bevolking vooraf geraadpleegd worden.

“Er is dus echt een lange traditie van Amerikaanse aanwezigheid in Groenland”, zegt Louise van Schaik, expert geopolitiek bij Instituut Clingendael. Mede daarom is het inlijven van Groenland volgens haar militair niet nodig. “Er is een grote bereidwilligheid om de Amerikanen daar hun gang te laten gaan.”

Trumps bewering dat de Denen te weinig doen aan veiligheid, valt volgens haar ook te betwisten “Tegen eerdere pogingen van China om er vliegvelden te openen om grondstoffen te delven, is opgetreden door Denemarken én de VS.”

Welke delfstoffen heeft Groenland?

Groenland is voor de Amerikanen vooral belangrijk vanwege de grondstoffen, legt Van Schaik uit. Het heeft veel uranium, dat slechts in een paar landen in de grond zit. “Omdat de sneeuw op het eiland steeds sneller smelt, zijn de kritieke grondstoffen makkelijker bereikbaar”, zegt ze, al blijft het delven vanwege gebrek aan infrastructuur niet heel eenvoudig.

Daarnaast zijn er andere kritieke ruwe materialen, die belangrijk zijn voor de productie van militaire goederen, zegt de Clingendael-onderzoeker. “De stoffen in de Groenlandse grond kunnen militaire technologieën sterker of lichter maken. De elementen zijn moeilijk winbaar, maar zijn voor specifieke toepassingen enorm waardevol.”

Ook Europese landen hebben belang bij de grondstoffen, omdat zij minder afhankelijk willen worden van landen als China. Dat land heeft jarenlang ingezet op mijnbouw en raffinagecapaciteit. “Omdat landen de zeldzame aardmetalen tijdens conflicten als drukmiddel kunnen inzetten, wil Europa z’n eigen boontjes kunnen doppen.”

Kan de VS alleen door het land in te nemen grondstoffen krijgen?

Denemarken en Groenland zijn niet per se tegen het delven van grondstoffen door de Amerikanen, zegt de Clingendael-expert. Wel willen ze vooraf afspraken, bijvoorbeeld zodat het op een veilige manier gaat en inwoners van Groenland er niet ziek van kunnen worden.

De VS gebruikt verschillende manieren om Groenland onder druk te zetten, stelt Van Schaik. “Ze dreigen met militair handelen en hebben ook gezegd dat ze Groenland kunnen kopen.”

Ook kan de VS proberen af te dwingen dat Amerikaanse bedrijven een voorkeursbehandeling krijgen bij delving in Groenland. “Zoals bij de grondstoffendeal met Oekraïne gebeurde.” Dan kunnen de Amerikanen zeggen dat ze grondstoffen delven in ruil voor militaire bescherming tegen Rusland of China. Ook kan de VS voorstellen dat de Amerikanen een deel van de inkomsten van de grondstoffen krijgt.”

Gaat het dan alleen over grondstoffen?

Groenland is ook interessant door de ligging van scheepvaartroutes tussen verschillende werelddelen.

Het gaat ook over invloedssferen, stelt van Schaik “Als je die logica volgt is het de vraag: ‘hoe groot wil je eruit zien op de wereldkaart’?” Met Groenland erbij zou de VS er 2.166.000 vierkante kilometer op vooruit gaan. Dat is ruim 51 keer de oppervlakte van Nederland.

Hoe nu verder?

De NAVO overweegt een Groenlandmissie om Trump tevreden te stellen. De Deense minister van Buitenlandse Zaken gaat volgende week op bezoek bij de Amerikaanse buitenlandminister Rubio.

Diplomaten hopen dat de NAVO-bondgenoten daarmee de plannen voor een militaire actie van de VS ontmoedigen.

De Denen en Groenlanders geven zich dus niet zomaar gewonnen. Zelfs niet als Trump dreigt met het gebruik van militaire middelen.

EINDE

President Trump en zijn medewerkers bespreken hoe ze Groenland in handen kunnen krijgen. Dat laat het Witte Huis weten na vragen van persbureau Reuters.

“De president en zijn team bespreken een reeks aan opties om dit belangrijke doel van buitenlands beleid te bereiken”, aldus het Witte Huis. “Het gebruik van het leger is daarbij altijd een optie.”

Nationale veiligheid

Trump maakte in de eerste weken van deze presidentstermijn al duidelijk dat hij Groenland van Denemarken wil overnemen. De Deense premier Frederiksen en ook de Groenlanders zelf wijzen dat resoluut van de hand, maar Trump blijft er maar op terugkomen, het laatst zondagavond aan boord van zijn regeringsvliegtuig.

“We hebben Groenland nodig voor onze nationale veiligheid”, zei hij. “De ligging is zo strategisch. Op dit moment zitten daar overal Russische en Chinese schepen. Wij hebben Groenland nodig voor onze nationale veiligheid en Denemarken gaat daar niet voor zorgen, dat kan ik je wel vertellen.”