Reuters was first to report that US and Danish officials lobbied the developer of Greenland’s largest rare earths deposit not to sell its project to Chinese-linked firms. The CEO of Tanbreez Mining, speaking exclusively to Reuters, said the company had been in regular contact with Washington as it reviews funding options to develop the Island’s critical minerals.

The move underscores the long-running economic interest U.S. officials have had in the Danish territory, well before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump began musing in recent weeks about acquiring it.

The Reuters story was picked up widely by other outlets, while shares in US-based Critical Metals – in the process of buying a controlling stake in Tanbreez – rose almost 14 percent the following day in early trade.