US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that the framework agreement reached with NATO regarding Greenland includes access to mineral rights for the US and its European allies, in addition to strategic cooperation in the Golden Dome initiative.
Trump said the agreement involves joint participation in the development of the Golden Dome and the sharing of mineral rights between the US and its allies. He also described the duration of the agreement as long-term.
When asked how long the agreement would last, he said “Forever.”
In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump stressed that the US would not use force to take over Greenland and called for immediate negotiations on the status of the island.
Shortly after, Trump confirmed that a framework agreement had been reached with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Following the development, he announced that the US would not impose tariffs on Denmark and other European countries on February 1.
Trump also described the agreement as a complex concept agreement, without elaborating further details on its content or implementation.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Greenland ranks eighth in the world in terms of rare earth reserves. The Trump administration has made developing the rare earth supply chain a priority of its industrial policy, in line with efforts to reduce the United States' dependence on China.
Rare earth minerals are widely used in the production of magnets, which are essential components for defense systems, electric vehicles, electronics and various other strategic industries.
The United States' attempt to take over Greenland, an autonomous territory under Denmark, has previously raised concerns about the potential for rifts in the NATO alliance.
