Billions, raw materials and Trump. The Greenland conflict reaches a new level
The Australian mining company Energy Transition Minerals (ETM), which is demanding compensation of DKK 76 billion (approx. PLN 43,700 million) from the Greenland government in ongoing court proceedings, has just appointed one of Donald Trump's most important former advisors to its advisory board.
The company announced this information on Tuesday in a stock exchange announcement.
This is Alexander B. Gray, a former senior adviser to US President Donald Trump and former White House Chief of Staff of the National Security Council.
According to Niels Bjerre Poulsen, a lecturer in American studies at the University of Southern Denmark, the choice of this person is not accidental.
– says the expert.
Thus, Alexander B. Gray joins the previously controversial team of ETM advisors.
Its members include former Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod, former top Greenlandic diplomat Friis Arne Petersen and former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
The new nomination caused a great stir among Danish experts.
I understand why ETM decided to hire such a recognizable American. From their point of view, this is a very sensible move. However, if I were a Greenlander, I would be concerned. This puts enormous political pressure on Greenland
– says Flemming Getreuer Christiansen, former deputy director of the Danish Geological Survey and today an independent consultant.
The conflict is entering a new phase
Who ETM chooses as a strategic advisor is particularly important as the company is at the center of one of the largest and most fundamental raw materials disputes in Greenland's history.
The company is demanding compensation from the Greenlandic local government in the amount of DKK 76 billion (approximately PLN 43,700 million) if it is not allowed to continue the mining project in Kvanefjeld. This deposit is one of the world's largest resources of rare earth metals and also contains uranium.
The amount of the claim is three times the value of the entire economy of Greenland, which – according to experts – makes the case extremely explosive.
In disputes involving such huge sums of money, each side tries to gather the strongest possible arguments. By hiring Alexander B. Gray, ETM increases the pressure on Greenland. The more a company can suggest that Donald Trump is behind it, the more problematic this issue becomes for both Greenland and Denmark. And the more troublesome the situation, the greater the temptation to reach a settlement. Perhaps this is what the company wants
– says Per Nikolaj Bukh, professor of financial management at Aalborg University.
A controversial draft decision
According to both Per Nikolaj Bukh and Flemming Getreuer Christiansen, the very moment of announcing the appointment of a new adviser is also interesting.
This came just two months after Greenlandic website Sermitsiaq revealed that the Department of Natural Resources had recommended not extending ETM's exploration license.
This happened despite the fact that the company had previously received extensions of this license many times – also after initiating proceedings against the Greenlandic local government.
The fact that this is happening simultaneously with this extremely strange denial project makes the situation even more delicate
says Flemming Getreuer Christiansen.
After announcing the position of the Department of Natural Resources, ETM director Daniel Mamadou described Greenland's actions as “another violation of the company's rights.”
He wrote about it in a stock exchange announcement published in April.
The whole situation further intensifies the conflict.
It's hard not to see this attempted refusal as a Greenlandic counterattack. It is clear that the pressure on both sides of the conflict has increased significantly
– says Per Nikolaj Bukh, referring to the nomination of Alexander B. Gray.
“This is a very uncomfortable situation for Greenland”
Tuesday's stock exchange announcement shows that Alexander B. Gray is to advise ETM on the strategy related to the development of the Kvanefjeld project.
ETM Director Daniel Mamadou emphasized that he was honored to work with Gray. He noted his experience gained “at the highest levels of U.S. government” as well as his knowledge of international security, trade and strategic supply chains.
This will provide ETM with invaluable perspective and help guide the company's direction as it continues to develop its international strategy
– he said.
In a situation where the importance of critical raw materials is increasingly associated with national security and industrial policy, Alex's experience will be extremely valuable for the long-term position of ETM, especially in the context of our relations with American markets and partners.
Mamadou also added.
From the company's point of view, this choice makes sense. He supports Trump's political project. At the same time, however, this undermines Greenland's right to self-determination. This is a very uncomfortable situation for Greenland
– says Ulrik Pram Gade, senior researcher at the Danish Institute of International Studies (DIIS).
Alexander B. Gray himself said he is excited to join ETM's advisory team at a time when the importance of critical raw materials to national and economic security is greater than ever before.
ETM's activities in Greenland, and particularly the development of the Kuannersuit project, represent a strategic opportunity to diversify and strengthen international supply chains. I look forward to using my experience to support this process
– he said.
According to Per Nikolaj Bukh, it is also possible that the hiring of Trump's former adviser is not intended solely to obtain a more favorable settlement.
The second scenario assumes that the company actually counts on an increase in American influence in Greenland and that the regulations regarding the extraction of raw materials will be changed in the future. If we hypothetically assumed that the United States would take over Greenland, the island would fall under American jurisdiction. I have no doubt that natural resources law would be one of the first areas to change. ETM would then be in an extremely advantageous situation, having at its disposal huge resources of rare earth metals that are strategically important to the West
– says the professor.
At the same time, he emphasizes that such a scenario currently seems “relatively unlikely.”
“An attempt to undermine sovereignty”
This is confirmed, among other things, by his speech during a hearing in the US Congress in February 2025, organized in connection with Donald Trump's declared interest in taking over Greenland.
Alexander B. Gray was then called as a witness.
First of all, I strongly support President Trump's desire to bring Greenland closer to the United States
– he began his speech.
Then he turned to American politicians:
The question is: when Greenland inevitably gains independence from Denmark – as its leaders say – who will be waiting on the other side to greet it? Will it be Russia and China, which have a history of exploiting small developing states and are reluctant to respect their sovereignty? Or will it be a United States that stands for sovereignty, the rule of law, environmental protection, and respect for the rights and heritage of indigenous peoples?
He then presented two possible solutions.
The first would involve Greenland joining the United States as one of the American dependent territories – just like American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Guam.
It was this variant that Gray described as the “ideal solution”.
An alternative would be for an independent Greenland to enter into a special agreement of free association with the United States, similar to the agreements in force between the United States and the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.
The essence of my message is this: The United States is running out of time. The security risk is simply too great to allow Greenland to become independent without a plan to safeguard key U.S. strategic interests
– concluded his speech.
Ulrik Pram Gade from DIIS believes that the election of Alexander B. Gray by the ETM is further evidence that the United States is trying to limit Greenland's political independence.
From the company's perspective, this choice is logical because it supports Trump's project. At the same time, it undermines Greenland's right to self-determination. This puts Greenland in a very uncomfortable position. In practice, it is a way of saying to Greenlanders: 'we want to help you get rich, but in return you have to give up some of the rules you have set yourself, for example regarding environmental protection.'
says Gade.
In January, ETM also concluded an agreement with the American consulting company Ballard Partners, which – according to Sermitsiaq – also maintains close ties with the Donald Trump administration.
Danwatch journalists asked ETM for a comment on this matter, but by the time the article was published, the company had not responded to their questions.
