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EU pledges more than $200 million to Greenland amid Trump annexation threats

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • The EU signed a declaration with Greenland and Denmark and announced a $232 million package for administration, sustainable tourism and housing over the next two years.
  • European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Greenland’s future should be decided by Greenlanders and Denmark, after repeated US President Donald Trump threats to annex the territory.
  • Brussels has proposed raising direct EU aid to Greenland to 530 million euros under the bloc’s 2028-2034 budget, while a NATO Arctic exercise brings about 400 personnel to the island.

The European Union is responding to Donald Trump’s repeated threats to annex Greenland by offering more money, closer cooperation and an explicit statement of support for the territory’s right to determine its own future.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a $232 million, or 200 million euro, investment package during a visit to Nuuk. The money will go to Greenland’s government over the next two years to strengthen administrative capacity and support programmes for sustainable tourism and housing construction.

Greenland’s future is for the people of Greenland and Denmark to decide. No one else.

· Ursula von der LeyenThe European Commission president stated the EU’s position on Greenland’s future during her visit to Nuuk.

Von der Leyen signed a declaration with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. “Greenland’s future is for the people of Greenland and Denmark to decide. No one else,” she said.

The EU has also proposed more than doubling direct aid to Greenland under its next budget, raising it to 530 million euros, or $616 million, for the 2028-2034 period. Von der Leyen said the bloc wanted to be “more present and more engaged” in the Arctic region.

Through these challenging times, your support to us is unfailing. You have stood by us and continue to stand by us. We feel it and are deeply grateful.

· Jens-Frederik NielsenGreenland’s prime minister thanked the EU for its support.

Nielsen welcomed the support. “Through these challenging times, your support to us is unfailing,” he said. “You have stood by us and continue to stand by us. We feel it and are deeply grateful.” He added: “Greenland needs the European Union, and the European Union needs Greenland.”

The visit coincided with the start of NATO’s Arctic Shield exercise, which involves about 400 military personnel from 11 alliance countries in Greenland from September 7 to 18. The exercise follows an earlier public show of military support for Greenland’s sovereignty by eight European countries. Trump responded by threatening tariffs on the participating countries before backing down in February after NATO agreed to expand Arctic operations.

Greenland needs the European Union, and the European Union needs Greenland.

· Jens-Frederik NielsenNielsen emphasized the importance of closer ties between Greenland and the EU.
About this summary

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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