Donald Trump's push to gain control over Greenland wasn't just about national security or strategic location, it was about rare earth minerals, according to a new report that sheds light on the motive behind his controversial 2019 proposal.
The president's interest in purchasing or asserting control over Greenland aligned closely with efforts to secure access to the island's vast deposits of rare earth elements, according to a report from the Washington Post. These minerals, essential for defense systems, electric vehicles, and high-tech manufacturing, are currently dominated by China, which controls over 90 percent of global processing. Greenland holds some of the largest untapped reserves in the world, with geologists estimating deposits of at least 25 of the 34 minerals the EU considers critical, and over two-thirds of those listed by the U.S.
