Ursula von der Leyen Visits Greenland to Promote a “Strong Partnership” With the EU

Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Nuuk under a bright sun, beginning a two-day visit designed to show that Greenland should build its future with Europe rather than the United States.

The president of the European Commission will travel by boat among icebergs, meet Greenland’s head of government and Denmark’s prime minister, and sign a joint declaration with Greenland. Her message throughout the trip is that Europe wants a strong relationship with the autonomous Danish territory.

“What happens in the Arctic directly affects the rest of Europe, and a strong partnership with Greenland is crucial to our position in the region,” European Commissioner Josef Sikela said. He is accompanying von der Leyen on the visit.

The trip follows the major crisis caused by Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland earlier this year. Trump discussed the possibility of “using force” to take the territory, which has 57,000 residents, alarming the European Union and NATO. Tensions eased after Denmark, Greenland, and the United States created a working group seeking a lasting way out, but European governments remain aware that the threats could return.

The Europeans have paired their messages of solidarity with promises of investment. Von der Leyen could announce a new package worth 200 million euros during the visit. The timing also coincides with the start of Arctic Shield, an exercise involving soldiers from 10 NATO countries, a coincidence that one Quebec University geopolitics researcher described as significant.

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What happens in the Arctic directly affects the rest of Europe, and a strong partnership with Greenland is crucial to our position in the region.