Why Greenland Matters: Ice Melt, Rare Earths And The New Global Power Race

Lying between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, Greenland is fast emerging as one of the most strategically important regions in the world. Once almost entirely covered in ice, climate change is exposing vast reserves of rare earth minerals, hydrocarbons, and other resources critical to the global economy. Though geographically part of North America, Greenland remains politically tied to Denmark, even as it moves gradually toward greater autonomy. The island's location has long made it vital to United States defence planning, hosting key missile-warning infrastructure, while China and Russia eye its resources and Arctic access. As ice retreats and geopolitical competition intensifies, Greenland has shifted from a frozen frontier to a central piece in the new global power race.