05.03.2026 Statement for briefing on energy, critical minerals and security

Check Against Delivery

Thank you, Mr. President,

And let me also thank Under Secretary-General DiCarlo for her insightful remarks.

Secretary Wright, thank you for your presence here today and for shedding light on a topic which greatly affects instability and conflict around the world.

Access to critical minerals and energy systems sits at the very heart of international peace and security.

These minerals not only enable renewable technologies, digital infrastructure, and modern industry. They are indispensable to the global energy transition, inclusive economic development and growth, and global economic security.

How they are managed today, will shape whether they strengthen - or strain - global stability tomorrow.

Mr. President,

Conflict over natural resources is not new. From oil to water to critical minerals, resource pressures have shaped geopolitics for centuries.

No region has been immune. However, in recent decades, these challenges have disproportionately impacted Africa, in particular the Great Lakes Region, Sudan and the Sahel. The illicit exploitation of natural resources continues to fuel armed conflict, undermine state authority, and devastate communities across the continent.

At the same time, global supply chains, whether for critical minerals or energy exports and infrastructure, have increasingly been weaponised, threatening the prosperity, livelihoods and wellbeing of millions of civilians.

Allow me to highlight three points.

First, Mr. President,

It is essential that countries rich in natural resources, including critical minerals, fully benefit from their own wealth. Such wealth should drive local economic growth, facilitate economic diversification and support inclusive peace and sustainable development.

To this end, dialogue between governments and local populations, as well as with civil society and the private sector is essential.

Across borders, regional integration also plays a crucial role in harmonising regulations, enabling the movement of persons and goods, facilitating cross-border infrastructure development, and enhancing cooperation to prevent conflicts linked to resource exploitation.

Second, Mr. President,

Denmark believes that a key aspect of ensuring global energy security relies on joint efforts to reduce strategic dependencies on dominant suppliers and bolstering energy autonomy. Similarly, we oppose critical minerals being used as a tool of economic coercion.

Collective action, through international partnerships and trade agreements is therefore essential to ensure dependable and stable supply chains.

For our part, Denmark focuses on supply chain resilience in line with the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which focuses on minerals vital for the "twin transition".

We also see the green transition as crucial to building energy security and reducing possible competition. To this end, Denmark is working to ensure secure long-term renewable energy and clean technology sources.

Third, Mr. President,

Energy infrastructure remains a critical part of civilian infrastructure. Attacks on power grids and pipelines disrupt economies, undermine public services, and impede the provision of basic humanitarian needs.

We are seeing this unfold in many parts of the world, including in the Middle East and Africa.

And for four years now, we have witnessed in Ukraine how Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructure have had devastating humanitarian consequences for the civilian population.

Civilian infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law. Further, it must be made more resilient to both conflict-related and climate-related risks.

Mr. President, in closing

Natural resources have long shaped the dynamics of conflict. Around the world, we are seeing that these stakes are rising once again.

At the United Nations, and in particular around this table, we have a shared responsibility to ensure that these resources become a foundation for progress and peace, not a source of division.

That means supporting responsible and sustainable natural resource management.

It means equitable benefit-sharing, and the protection of energy infrastructure.

In short, it means prioritising cooperation over conflict.

Denmark stands ready to support all efforts to that end.

I thank you.