Who would have thought that the next battleground between the US and China (with Denmark playing a supporting role) would be Greenland? The largest island in the world, whose name means "green land" (although there is actually very little green, given that 80% of the surface is covered by perennial ice), has only 55 inhabitants (almost all ethnic Inuit, only 10% of Danish origin) of which 18 in the capital Nuuk: geographically it is part of America, although since 1953 it has officially belonged to Denmark. But now it is Beijing that wants to get its hands on this rich in minerals and rare earths: the project belongs to the much more extensive one of the modern "Silk Road", a commercial strategy launched by China in 2013 to increase trade with other countries through investments and the construction of massive new infrastructures. Beijing's ambitious design consists of a land "belt" (which ideally links China to Venice, retracing the ancient Marco Polo route) and a sea route. Greenland would obviously be part of the maritime one and according to some estimates at least 68 countries, 65% of the world's population and 40% of global GDP will be involved.
The maxi project would be entrusted in particular to gigantic state-owned company China Communications Construction Company Ltd. (CCCC), which would like to start with the expansion of three airports on the island, Nuuk, Ilulissat and Qaqortoq, for an investment of 3,6 billion Danish crowns (483 million euros). In May, for the first time, CCCC was admitted in advance to a public tender, together with five other Western companies, precisely for this strategic airport project for Greenland's path towards independence. However, there are not only airports: in Kanglilinnguit, in the south of the country, China wanted to acquire a decommissioned maritime base, but the Danish government opposed it. Yes, because the Beijing maneuvers are not going to the liking of those who have had strategic interests on that island for years: Denmark, which exercises political power there, but above all the USA, which has had an important radar base in Greenland since 1951, part of their anti-missile shield, while Canada currently operates the only active mine on the island, from which it extracts rubies and sapphires.
In fact, the match is not only infrastructural. Greenland is a treasure trove of mineral resources: there are deposits of uranium, rare earths, gold, iron, nickel, zinc. In part, China has already entered this game: the company Shenghe Resources has held 2017% of a project to extract uranium and rare earths in Kvanefjeldet since 12,5, which could become the second largest rare earth mine in the world. If Shenghe came to control 60%, China would acquire the domination of the exploitation of these minerals. Which, not a small detail, are crucial for the construction of smartphones.
