Trump claims that the US must establish control over Greenland for the sake of ‘national security’, arguing that otherwise the island will be taken over by either China or Russia.
During her visit, von der Leyen is expected to sign a joint declaration between the EU and the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland.
In January, von der Leyen and the President of the European Council, António Costa, issued a joint statement emphasising the importance of ‘territorial integrity and sovereignty’ and declaring that the EU stands ‘in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland’.
Speaking at this year’s annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, von der Leyen stated that the EU was preparing a “massive influx of European investment” into Greenland, with a view to strengthening security in the Arctic.
The Commission has proposed allocating €530 million to Greenland as part of its budget for the period 2028–2034; according to the Commission, this reflects “Greenland’s growing geostrategic importance in the Arctic”.
According to the Financial Times, von der Leyen is expected to announce a further €200 million in funding for the island during her visit.
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