The National Research University Higher School of Economics called rare earth metals the reason for Trump's claim to Greenland
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- The National Research University Higher School of Economics called rare earth metals the reason for Trump's claim to Greenland
The reason for US President-elect Donald Trump's claim to Greenland lies in the need to extract rare-earth metals necessary for the transition to the sixth technological mode. This opinion was shared with "Izvestia" on January 13 by experts from the Faculty of Urban and Regional Development of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
As indicated, rare-earth metals can be considered the key to modern technology, because they are used for innovation and make it possible to make the transition to the sixth technological mode, which will be based on the achievements of artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, robotics, global information systems. The beginning of the transition is the mass introduction of advanced technologies in the economic activities of the state, the experts specified.
"Most of the rare earth metals are mined in Asia. This means that Western countries, including the United States, may become dependent on this region. Therefore, the states standing on the threshold of transition to the sixth technological mode seek access to rare earth metals mining," said Evgeny Mikhailenko, dean of the Faculty of Urban and Regional Development at the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
He added that there is an active distribution of Greenland license areas in the global market, in which Chinese, Australian and mining companies from other countries are participating.
"In the last decade, large-scale geological surveys for rare earths and other minerals needed for modern high-tech products - lithium, nickel, etc. - have taken place in the foreign Arctic. A whole range of such materials has been discovered in Greenland. China, seeking to maintain its superiority in the market of rare earth metals, is actively fighting for Greenland license areas," said Nadezhda Zamyatina, a leading researcher at the Faculty of Urban and Regional Development of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.
Experts also drew attention to the fact that Russia is among the top five leaders in terms of world reserves of rare earth metals. However, this industry is currently underdeveloped. Thus, said Mikhailenko, in addition to the currently operating Lovozersky mining and processing plant in the Murmansk region, great hopes are connected with the Tomtor deposit in the north of Yakutia, which is unique in niobium content, although its development is severely complicated by the Arctic conditions.
The mining of rare-earth metals is becoming not only a necessity for the transition to the sixth technological mode, but also forms a new industry in the Arctic zone of Russia, experts concluded.
On the eve of Trump's advisor Michael Waltz said that the President-elect, speaking about his plans to join Greenland, considers all options for the implementation of such a scenario, up to the impact of force.
Prior to that, on January 7, Aja Chemnitz, a member of the Danish Parliament of Greenland, emphasized that Greenland is not for sale and will not be sold, but Denmark can cooperate more with the United States.
Trump, in turn, back on December 22, when announcing the appointment of an ambassador to Denmark, emphasized that for the States "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." The American politician showed interest in buying Greenland from Denmark and in 2019. Then he received a refusal.
