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🇪🇸 Spain /Elections & Politics

Von der Leyen takes Europe’s message to Greenland after Trump’s annexation threats

From La Vanguardia · () Spanish

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

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Greenland as Donald Trump continued to insist that the island should come under US control.
  • She is due to sign a joint declaration with Greenland that could include an additional 200 million euros in EU funding.
  • Her visit coincides with NATO exercises involving 400 troops from 11 countries, including Denmark, France and Germany.

Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Greenland on Sunday carrying what she presented as Europe's message to the island, after months of Donald Trump insisting that it should be annexed by the United States.

The European Commission president is due to sign a joint declaration with Greenland on Monday. The agreement could include another 200 million euros in funding as part of Brussels' effort to strengthen its appeal to Greenlanders.

The last time I was here was two years ago, and on that occasion I promised that I would return with a substantial package of measures. Today I can say that I will keep that promise.

· Ursula von der LeyenShe described the funding and cooperation package planned during her Greenland visit.

“ The last time I was here was two years ago, and on that occasion I promised that I would return with a substantial package of measures. Today I can say that I will keep that promise,” the German conservative said after landing.

We are a family.

· Ursula von der LeyenShe used the phrase to frame the EU's relationship with Greenland.

Her visit coincides with the start of NATO exercises in Greenland. Four hundred troops from 11 alliance countries, including Denmark, France and Germany, will train together on land, at sea and in the air in southern Greenland and the western fjords. The exercises form part of Arctic Sentinel, an operation intended to reinforce control in the strategically important area.

Von der Leyen's previous visit to Nuuk produced two cooperation agreements worth nearly 100 million euros. Since then, Trump's push to bring Greenland under US control has continued, including renewed comments at the NATO leaders' summit in July. A working group of US, Greenlandic and Danish representatives is negotiating the issue discreetly through the end of the year.

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.

· Ursula von der LeyenShe explained the strategic importance she attached to the visit.

“We are a family,” von der Leyen said after leaving the plane. “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.”

It should be under US control, and not Denmark's.

· Donald TrumpHe reiterated his position on Greenland in comments cited by the article.
About this summary

Originally published by La Vanguardia in Spanish. 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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