EU Plans More Than 100 Billion Icelandic Krona in Direct Support for Greenland

“Europe stands by its commitments,” Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Nuuk as the European Commission president arrived in Greenland with a message for Washington: the island belongs to Europe, not the United States.

Von der Leyen will spend two days in Greenland to reinforce the European Union’s support amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to occupy the island. Trump said earlier this year that the United States needed control of Greenland for national security reasons, although he eventually ruled out acquiring it by force.

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We are one family.

The visit will include a trip among icebergs, meetings with senior Greenlandic and Danish officials, and the signing of a joint declaration of intent between Greenland and the European Union. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen welcomed von der Leyen in Nuuk.

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Europe stands by its commitments.

The European Commission has proposed doubling the bloc’s direct assistance to Greenland to 530 million euros, equivalent to 74.5 billion Icelandic krona, in the EU’s next budget for 2028-2034. The Financial Times, citing sources, reported that von der Leyen would propose an additional 200 million euros, or nearly 30 billion Icelandic krona, during her visit.

“We are one family,” von der Leyen said on arrival. She said Europe was expanding cooperation in areas including faster and better connections, clean energy and critical raw materials. In January, she had promised “massive” EU investment in Greenland to strengthen security in the Arctic after European countries backed Denmark and Greenland in response to Trump’s threats.

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massive