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Ronald Lauder, the Estee Lauder heir who convinced Trump to pursue Greenland in 2017, is increasingly moving from talk to action. Through a Delaware-registered company called Greenland Development Partners, Lauder has quietly purchased stakes in Greenlandic companies. The broader claim is that this is economic infiltration disguised as investment, with Lauder’s business partners in Greenland described as some of the country’s most influential people with close ties to Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt.
Greenland Development Partners is portrayed as an opaque Delaware investment consortium. Delaware is described as “the Shell company's capital of America, where you can hide ownership structures and avoid scrutiny.” Danish newspaper Politikens Investigation is cited as labeling Laura (Lauder) as a key participant in the consortium, which has bought stakes in two Greenlandic firms, including Greenland Water Bank.
Greenland Water Bank is owned by Svein Hardenbair and Sverdrupijn. Hardenbair is a former civil servant adviser to Greenland’s prime minister until recently and was also the director of Greenland’s national energy company.
Jan Beboj Johansson is highlighted as particularly interesting. He is a former minister in several Greenlandic governments and chairs the governing Ziomoot party in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. Ziomoot is one of the four parties in Greenland’s current coalition government. The crucial point is that Johansson’s wife is Vivian Motzfeldt, the foreign minister of Greenland, who handles foreign relations, including relations with the United States.
The alleged linkage is that Ronald Lauder, described as Trump’s friend and advisor on Greenland, is now in business with Johansson’s wife’s husband, i.e., the Greenland Foreign Minister’s husband.
The narrative asserts this is not merely investment but influence at the highest level. Greenland Water Bank may appear small and harmless. Its 2024 accounts show minimum staffing costs of about $5,500 and a modest financial loss. The company bottles water from the Lingmar Spring in Krakataswak on Disko Island, selling locally under the brand Emilik. Up to 2024, ownership was shared between Hardenbair and Beboj Johansson, before part of their shares were sold to Lauder’s investor group.
Hardenbair explains to Pulchikung (Poltikken/Politiken) that the investment is not primarily about the money, but about gaining better access to the luxury market where their water should be a natural part. They believed the water was among the best in the world.
The stated expectation is that Lauder’s involvement would grant access to the American luxury market for Greenland Water Bank’s premium water. The question raised is what Lauder receives in return: a pressure point and a foothold into Greenland’s top elite, enabling direct business relationships with politically connected Greenlanders. The narrative suggests funds could flow to Sven and Jorn (Johansson) through Greenland Water Bank as salaries, bonuses, or in Forms such as business trips, luxury offices, boats, or cars, all paid by investments from Lauder. The scale of Lauder’s wealth is mentioned as $5,000,000,000 USD, with Lauder reportedly able to mobilize $10,000,000 for ventures.
The central controversy remains the connection to Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, who previously served on Greenland Water Bank’s board. Her husband’s involvement via Johansson’s alliance with Lauder is presented as a potential conflict of interest, given Lauder’s influence on Greenland’s political and economic landscape.