EU seeks to win over Greenland with another €200 million as Trump pursues island ambitions

The European Union is putting another €200 million into Greenland as it seeks a stronger presence in the Arctic, while U.S. President Donald Trump continues to insist that the island should come under American control.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Greenland to announce a new strategy for the island and sign a cooperation agreement covering additional funding for this year and next. The investment will focus on three priorities: satellite connectivity, energy self-sufficiency through renewable sources and critical raw materials.

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and nobody else

Von der Leyen made clear that Europe’s interest in Greenland does not alter who decides the territory’s future. Appearing with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen, she said that territorial integrity, sovereignty and the inviolability of borders are fundamental principles of international law. Greenland’s future concerns Greenland and Denmark, she said, “and nobody else.”

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clear choice of Greenlanders to strengthen ties with the EU

The European Commission presented the funding as reflecting what von der Leyen called the “clear choice of Greenlanders to strengthen ties with the EU.” It also described the package as creating new opportunities and supporting a stronger European commitment in Greenland and the Arctic.

Trump has repeatedly said Greenland should be under U.S. control rather than Denmark’s. A working group involving U.S., Greenlandic and Danish representatives is continuing negotiations until the end of the year. The EU’s direct investments come ahead of a new Arctic strategy expected in October, which will refer to the region as the bloc’s “northern neighborhood” rather than the “far north,” underscoring its importance to Europe.

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northern neighborhood