France eyes Greenland’s trillion-euro minerals

France and Greenland have concluded a technical cooperation agreement focused on improving geological knowledge of the Arctic island’s mineral deposits. The project will be implemented with the French public geological institution BRGM and will rely on satellite technologies capable of mapping ice-free coastal areas and analysing subsurface structures.

The cooperation concentrates on strategic resources such as lithium, uranium and rare earth elements – minerals increasingly crucial for advanced technologies, defence systems and the energy transition. According to the Greenlandic government, the project will significantly expand knowledge of the island’s geology and support future exploration.

For France, the agreement also provides a technological foothold in the Arctic. Satellite data and geological analysis will help identify promising mining areas along Greenland’s extensive coastline, where vast resources remain largely unexplored due to harsh environmental conditions and limited infrastructure.

The initiative comes at a time when Greenland has become a focal point of geopolitical competition. The island – a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark – has drawn global attention following renewed statements from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington should take control of the strategically located Arctic territory.

In response, Greenlandic and Danish leaders have emphasised that the island’s future lies within cooperation with Denmark, the European Union and NATO. French President Emmanuel Macron recently visited Greenland to demonstrate European support for the territory and underline that its sovereignty must be respected.

At the same time, interest in Greenland’s mining sector has grown rapidly. Officials in Nuuk report increased investment interest from companies based in the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada, particularly after the island entered the centre of geopolitical debate.

Despite the growing attention, Greenland remains cautious about opening its economy too quickly. Local business leaders warn that uncontrolled foreign investment could lead to a situation in which resources are extracted while most profits leave the country. As a result, authorities are trying to balance attracting capital with maintaining domestic control over natural resources.

The scale of Greenland’s potential mineral wealth is significant, yet development will take time. More than one hundred exploration licences have been issued, but only a few mining projects are currently operational. Harsh climate conditions, high logistical costs and environmental concerns make large-scale extraction a long-term process.

In practice, the French-Greenlandic agreement remains primarily a scientific and technological partnership. However, it reflects a broader geopolitical trend: the Arctic is increasingly emerging as a strategic arena where access to critical minerals, climate change and great-power competition intersect.

For Europe, strengthening cooperation with Greenland may become an important step toward securing alternative supply chains for strategic raw materials. For Nuuk, the challenge will be to transform its geological potential into sustainable economic development while maintaining control over its resources.