It will be at least six months before Greenland can strengthen its control over foreign investments.
The so-called screening law, which is supposed to lead to increased control over foreign access to Greenland's critical infrastructure and raw materials, is being delayed once again.
This was reported by the Ministry of Mineral Resources to the investigative media Danwatch.
This is the second time that the law, which is important for security policy, has been postponed, and this is causing concern among experts.
"I think all red lights are flashing," says security advisor and former FE analyst Jacob Kaarsbo.
Greenland in a vulnerable position
He points out that Greenland is currently in a vulnerable position as an area of strategic interest for the United States.
“When there is a case like this, which actually shows that something is not being taken seriously enough, then the US doesn’t even need to use their own propaganda - here we give them real arguments.”
Greenland currently does not have a legal basis that allows the Greenlandic authorities to screen foreign investments.
The purpose of the new screening law is therefore to give the Greenlandic government the authority to screen - and if necessary - prohibit or reject foreign investments that could affect Greenland’s security.
According to the head of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, the postponement is due to the fact that the new Minister of Mineral Resources must first have time to familiarize himself with the area. On April 14, Múte B. Egede was elected as the new Minister of Mineral Resources in Greenland.
Explanation is puzzling
This explanation is puzzling to Niels Henrik Hooge, a member of the environmental movement NOAH, a Danish NGO active in the debate on Greenland's natural resources:
"I am very surprised that they are postponing the adoption of the screening law, because I am quite sure that the new minister knows his stuff," he says, referring to the fact that Múte B. Egede was Greenland's head of government from 2021 to 2025.
He explains that it is an urgent task, not least because of the pressure from Trump, to screen these companies that want to invest in Greenland's subsoil.
It has only been a month and a half since Danwatch was able to reveal how the Ministry of Mineral Resources had awarded two new exploration licenses to a shady Australian mining investor, Michael Shemesian, in January without his knowledge.
The Ministry of Mineral Resources stated in this connection that relatively simple requirements are set when granting exploration licenses, and that there is “limited depth” in the investigation of ownership.
According to Jørgen Hammeken-Holm, the Screening Act must be finalized in the autumn session, and only then will a date be set for when it actually comes into force.
