EU chief due in Greenland to boost ties

‘NOT COINCIDENCE’: Ursula von der Leyen’s visit coincides with the Arctic Shield drills, which an expert said signals to the world that Greenland does not stand alone

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen headed to Greenland yesterday for a two-day visit aimed at reaffirming the bloc’s support for the Danish autonomous territory coveted by US President Donald Trump.

Today, she is due to sign a joint declaration between the EU and Greenland.

“Greenland is becoming increasingly important to the EU as a gateway to the Arctic and because of its geopolitical location, critical raw materials and role in Arctic security,” Royal Danish Defence College researcher Marc Jacobsen said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, cuts the ribbon for the opening of the agency’s office in Nuuk on March 15, 2024.

Photo:AFP

Trump was adamant earlier this year about Washington’s need to control the vast Arctic island for reasons of national security, although he ultimately ruled out annexing it by force.

A Danish-Greenlandic-US working group has since met regularly to find an agreement on cooperation going forward.

Following Trump’s threats, European countries broadly backed Denmark and Greenland, and in January, Von der Leyen vowed “massive” EU investment in Greenland to step up security in the Arctic.

Greenland is not a member of the bloc although Denmark is.

Brussels has also proposed doubling direct EU aid to Greenland to 530 million euros (US$615.49 million) under the bloc’s next budget for the 2028-to-2034 period.

The Financial Times said Von der Leyen is expected to propose an additional 200 million euros in support during her visit.

Her visit coincides with the start of NATO’s Arctic Shield military exercise, bringing together soldiers from 10 countries.

University of Quebec geopolitics researcher Mikaa Blugeon-Mered said the timing is “not insignificant coincidence.”

The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Denmark of neglecting Greenland and Arctic security. Copenhagen has since reinvested in the region, as has NATO, which launched its Arctic Sentry mission at the start of the year.

“The EU cannot provide Greenland with a military security guarantee in the way NATO can, but it can provide something politically important: a clear signal that Greenland is not standing alone,” Jacobsen said.

The message is all the more important as the US has kept up pressure on Greenland.

“We’ve been getting ‘postcards’ from Trump or those close to him about Greenland every month, showing that they haven’t forgotten,” Blugeon-Mered said.

One such image Trump posted on Truth Social in May showed him peering over the island, with the headline “Hello, Greenland!”

Greenland is also struggling to develop its mining industry, which could help it fund its independence from Denmark.

In this area, Greenlandic and European interests are “highly complementary,” Jacobsen said.

“Greenland needs investment, infrastructure and markets if it is to realize its mining ambitions, while the EU is looking for more secure and diversified access to critical raw materials,” he said.

However, turning Greenland’s geological potential into reality is proving more difficult than expected.

About 135 mining permits are held by more than 60 companies, but only two mines are in operation.

“The question is whether the current geopolitical momentum will ultimately be a game-changer,” Jacobsen said.

Blugeon-Mered said von der Leyen’s visit to Greenland — her second in two years — was a strong signal that European investment is long-term.