Von der Leyen and Mette Frederiksen arrive in Greenland

Ursula von der Leyen and Mette Frederiksen arrived in Nuuk under bright sunshine on Sunday, where Greenland’s leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, welcomed them ahead of two days of meetings. The talks will focus on new EU investment in Greenland and closer cooperation between Greenland, Denmark and the European Union.

The welcome was warm, with a handshake for von der Leyen from Nielsen and hugs and cheek kisses from Frederiksen. It may have become warmer after the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing two unnamed officials, that von der Leyen plans to announce an additional €200 million in support for Greenland.

The reported funding is being viewed as a sign that von der Leyen wants to further strengthen ties with Greenland and the Arctic region. The article links that effort to Iceland’s rejection of a return to negotiations on EU membership.

Greenland, Denmark and the EU are also expected to sign a new joint declaration on Monday, expanding their cooperation. The last such declaration was signed in 2015, when Denmark’s then-prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, took part. The agreement and details of the EU investment will not be presented until Monday.

Sunday’s programme includes a boat trip through the Arctic fjords around Nuuk, where small icebergs are visible, and a visit to Qoornoq, an old settlement whose houses are now used as holiday homes. The three leaders will also visit the Danish inspection ship Thetis. The visit follows criticism of Denmark’s armed forces after personnel shortages prevented the inspection ship Hvidbjørnen from beginning a planned two-month mission to Greenland. The visit to Thetis can therefore be seen as a sign that Denmark continues to carry out patrol duties in Greenland’s waters despite those challenges.