Greenland, the largest island in the world, is grabbing attention once again. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in buying the island from Denmark. He argued that Greenland’s strategic location, natural resources, and mining potential make it valuable for the United States. At one point, Trump even hinted that military action could be an option if Denmark refused to sell. Despite these statements, no deal has been reached, and Greenland remains firmly under Danish control.
Greenland Remains Outside Trump’s Control
The Danish government has strongly stated that Greenland is not for sale. Danish officials have emphasized that the island is an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that any attempt to buy it would not be considered. Their firm stance has made it clear that Greenland’s status will not change easily, keeping it out of U.S. hands for now.
Diplomats from both countries have been actively engaging in discussions to resolve the situation peacefully. These talks focus on maintaining strong U.S.-Denmark relations while avoiding any conflict over Greenland. Given the sensitive geopolitical situation in the Arctic, both nations understand the importance of diplomacy to prevent tensions from rising.
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Greenland’s significance goes beyond politics. Its location near the Arctic makes it strategically important for global trade and military navigation. In addition, the island is rich in natural resources, including rare earth minerals for mining, which are critical for technology and defense industries. This combination of strategic and economic value is why Greenland continues to be a hotspot for international attention.
Tech Billionaires Move Ahead With Greenland Mining Plans
Even as Trump pushes for Greenland, tech billionaires are already making plans for the island. Figures like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Peter Thiel, and Sam Altman are investing in companies that aim to explore Greenland’s natural resources through mining ventures. These projects focus on extracting rare earth minerals through mining, which are essential for modern technology.
According to Forbes, in 2019, shortly after Trump showed interest in buying Greenland, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates invested in Kobold Metals. This company specializes in rare earth mining on Greenland, and Gates’ Breakthrough Energy fund helped finance these operations.
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Later, in 2022, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also invested in Kobold Metals through Apollo Projects, a venture capital firm. In December 2024, Breakthrough Energy again participated in Kobold’s Series C funding round.
In addition, Critical Metals Corp, another company with mining projects in Greenland, has attracted investors connected to major U.S. tech firms, including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla. Critical Metals Corp CEO Tony Sage noted that Trump’s public statements about Greenland increased interest in their mining operations.
Freedom City and Mining Dreams
Rare earth minerals are not the only draw for tech billionaires. Greenland’s untouched landscapes are also being eyed as locations for futuristic private cities. One such concept is called Freedom City, a privately run city where tech companies would operate under their own rules.
The startup Praxis, backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and investors like Sam Altman, has been working on plans to develop such a city. Praxis’ CEO Dryden Brown even tried to acquire the island in 2023. The company has raised hundreds of millions in funding from tech investors and is considering Greenland as the location for its ambitious plans.
Mining remains the primary focus, however. Reports from companies like Amaroq confirm that Greenland holds large deposits of rare earth minerals, including germanium and gallium. These minerals are essential for producing advanced AI chips, robotics, defense equipment, electronics, and aerospace technology. Greenland is estimated to have around 1.5 million tons of rare earth minerals for mining, making it the eighth-largest known reserve in the world.
These investments by tech billionaires show that while the political tussle between the U.S. and Denmark continues, private companies are already preparing to take advantage of Greenland’s natural wealth. They are moving quickly to secure mining projects and even explore possibilities for future private settlements.