Donald Trump said that he believes the US will take control of Greenland. He has been adamant about his claim to the Arctic island and cited "economic security" on more than one occasion as a reason. The autonomous Danish territory is quick to insist that it's not for sale. However, its vast mineral resources and largely untapped nature are highly sought after.
As the motorboat navigates rough coastal waters and dramatic Fjords, we see jagged grey peaks.
Eldur Olafsson is the CEO of Amaroq Minerals. He says: "Those high, pointy mountains are basically a gold band."
After two hours of sailing, we arrived at a valley under the Nalunaq Mountain where the company is drilling for gold.
The company is also searching for valuable minerals in the nearby mountain ranges and valleys. It has acquired exploration licenses covering an area of over 10,000 square kilometers (3,861 square miles).
The Icelandic boss says, "We are looking for rare earths, copper, nickel and other metals." This is a new area that has the potential for multiple large deposits.
Base camp is a cluster mobile buildings, bright orange tents and more than 100 employees, including former British coal miners, Australians and Greenlanders. The road ascends the valley and we follow a dark tunnel up into the mine.
"See here!" "Look here!" says Mr Olafsson, pointing at a white quartz seam and a thin line of dark. "Gold, gold, gold. "Gold, gold, gold. "Isn't it extraordinary?"
Amaroq purchased the mine in 2015 after it had been closed for most of a decade due to falling gold prices and high operating costs.
Amaroq believes that the mine is now profitable. It plans to increase production in this year. A brand new processing facility has been built to crush ore and refine precious metals into gold bars.
"We could either leave the site each month with a bag of gold or a ship that carries 30,000 tonnes [of ore]", explains Mr Olafsson.
He claims that Greenland is a unique opportunity due to its vast mineral reserves, which are still largely untapped.
"It could be the source of all minerals that the Western World will need for decades," says Mr Olafsson. "And this is a unique position."
There are only two mines active on the island.
Greenland, a self-governing region that is part Denmark but has its own natural resources, is an independent territory.
The country has the eighth-largest reserves of rare earth elements. These are essential for everything from batteries to electric motors and mobile phones. The country also has high amounts of lithium and cobalt, two other important metals.
Oil and gas are also present, but drilling has been banned. Deep-sea mining is also prohibited.
Christian Kjeldsen is the director of Greenland’s Business Association. He says the "global geopolitical environment right now" is driving interest to the world’s largest island.
He argues that China has the largest reserves of rare-earth metals in the world, whereas the West is looking for alternative sources.
He says, "You've got a very powerful China that is sitting heavily on critical raw materials."
This has fueled a growing interest among Western nations in gaining access to Greenland’s minerals. China is also interested in getting involved, but it has a limited presence.
Reuters reported that US lobbied a mining company in Australia to not sell Greenland’s largest rare earth project to Chinese buyers.
Naaja Naajasen, Greenland's Minister of Business, Trade and Raw Materials, claims that the interest in Greenland's minerals "absolutely" increased over the past five years.
She continues: "We are used to being the hotspot of climate crises." We want to contribute to the solution."
Greenland has now issued permits for 100 blocks, where companies are looking for deposits. The largest foreign mining companies are British, Canadian, and Australian firms, with only one American.
There are still many steps to be taken before these sites can become mines.
Greenland's mineral wealth is a huge asset, but the "gold rush" has been slow to come.
The public sector and the fishing industry still drive the economy. The territory is also dependent on a $600m annual subsidy from Denmark.
Greenland politicians hope mining revenue will help reduce Greenland's dependence on the $600m annual subsidy from Denmark and boost independence efforts. In the meantime, Greenland makes more money through tourism.
Javier Arnaut of Greenland University's Arctic Social Sciences department says that mining is important for independence. In practice, it is clear that very few mining licences are awarded.
Ms Nathanielsen admits that "we have still not seen large sums of money flowing into this industry". She hopes to see three or five more mines in operation within the next ten years.
Greenland's remoteness and harsh weather make mining difficult. Greenland is the largest island in the world and it's covered with ice to 80%. There are no roads and rugged mountains.
Jakob Klove Keiding from the Geological Survey of Denmark & Greenland who has mapped deposits on the territory, says "It is an arctic landscape." We have to deal with the harsh climate conditions and limited infrastructure. So it's quite expensive to open a mine."
These high costs, combined with the low metal prices in the world, have kept investors away.
Some blame the slow growth of the sector on red tape. There are strict environmental and social impact regulations in the territory, and getting permits takes time.
Ms Nathanielsen asserts that the majority of communities support mining and that it boosts local economy. "They [overseas miners] shop in local shops. They hire local workers. She says they're renting a boat or helicopter from the local area.
