this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2025
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Canada and Denmark are quietly developing a potential alternative to China’s rare earth mineral monopoly (rareearthexchanges.com)
submitted 1 week ago by Scotty@scribe.disroot.org to c/europe@feddit.org
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cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/4239513

Archived link

Download The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy (pdf)

  • The partnership focuses on Greenland’s mineral deposits and Canada’s processing capabilities to create a more resilient supply chain.
  • Success depends on: Community approvals; processing scale; establishing transparent, traceable mineral contracts

A recent analysis by Geo Capitalist highlights a “silent deal” between Canada and Denmark that could mark a turning point in global rare earth supply chains. The story is compelling: Canada’s vast but underdeveloped mineral base, married to Denmark’s control of Greenland’s enormous rare earth deposits. Together, the two mid-sized players could mount the most credible Western challenge yet to China’s stranglehold on these critical resources. But does the hype match reality?

...

The story is not about whether Canada and Denmark will magically dethrone China. It’s about incremental leverage. Every ton of concentrate refined in Saskatchewan, every Greenland project permitted under environmental safeguards, chips away at Beijing’s incumbency. The payoff isn’t sudden—it’s an unpredictable supply, transparent standards, and long-term offtake contracts that allow automakers and electronics giants to plan with confidence.

Three markers will separate talk from substance:

  • Permitting milestones in Greenland – whether local communities approve key sites.
  • Processing buildout in Canada – pilot lines moving to commercial scale, with magnet makers in tow.
  • Policy glue – contracts linking North American and European buyers to supply under common ESG and traceability standards.

...

The Canada–Denmark narrative is exciting, but today it remains more blueprint than building. Still, the strategic logic is undeniable. Canada brings scale and processing ambition, Denmark holds the keys to Greenland’s geology, and both operate within trusted jurisdictions. For investors, the alliance’s potential lies not in a dramatic overnight shift but in quiet, reliable progress that makes supply chains more resilient.

China won’t be displaced soon, but each Western alternative reduces dependency and improves negotiating power. That’s the true value of this emerging partnership.

In other related news, Canadian Foreign Anita Minister Anand concludes successful visit to Finland to strengthen partnerships between Canada and Nordic countries

  • Canada and the 'Nordic Five' - Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland - share strong democratic values and a commitment to the rules-based international order. Together, Canada and the Nordic Five advance shared priorities in transatlantic security, support for Ukraine and economic cooperation.

  • Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy promotes sovereignty, stability and prosperity in the region.

  • Canada and Denmark are enhancing Arctic cooperation, including through Greenland’s role in the Arctic Council and shared Inuit heritage.

  • Canada and Finland collaborate on Arctic governance, sustainable development and Indigenous inclusion.

  • Canada and Norway have partnered since 1942 on multilateralism, human rights, climate issues, energy and Arctic security.

  • Canada and Iceland have maintained strong ties through recent high-level visits and joint work on trade, defence, climate issues, gender equality and youth mobility.

  • Canada and Sweden are deepening cooperation on security, innovation, climate issues and Arctic issues.

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[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Disclaimer: just my daily anti-clickbait rant. Nothing to see here.

I find OP's title extremely convoluted (it's the first sub-heading in the article): aren't they just mining stuff that has typically been China's bag so far? "quietly developing a potential alternative" sounds so conspirational and overly political.

Don't get me wrong, I totally see that this is important globally, politically, but still. They're pulling stuff out of the ground, not deploying spies.

[–] randomname@scribe.disroot.org 1 points 1 week ago

China has been using its rare earth quasi-monopoly as some sort of bullying and coercion to gain political influence in other areas that are completely unrelated to mining. And it is also a big economic issue. Just today, China's Zijin Mining Group - the world’s third-biggest metals miner by market value - fears that 'geopolitical confrontation' and 'resource nationalism' will pose challenges to its overseas projects.