Japan is preparing to dispatch a delegation to Greenland this summer to assess opportunities for rare earth extraction, as Tokyo intensifies efforts to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from Chinese dominance.
The visit will include officials from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry alongside representatives from Japanese trading companies and the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, according to Nikkei. The delegation will hold talks with local Greenlandic government officials.
The mission adds Japan to a growing list of countries actively courting Greenland’s mineral potential. The Arctic island, an autonomous territory of the Danish kingdom, has attracted heightened international attention since US President Donald Trump signalled interest in acquiring it in January, prompting alarm among NATO allies before discussions were moved to a diplomatic track. Greenland’s strategic location and potentially significant rare earth reserves have made it a focus for governments seeking alternatives to Chinese-controlled supply chains.
Japan’s interest is driven by structural necessity. The country is 100% dependent on mineral imports and has been accelerating its critical minerals diplomacy across Central Asia, Africa and the Pacific in parallel with the Greenland mission.
