European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that Arctic security is not only a priority for NATO but also for the European Union (EU), stating that Greenland can rely on the EU politically, economically, and financially.
For the first time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated explicitly that Greenland can rely on the EU in the field of security. Speaking at a press conference in Cyprus, von der Leyen highlighted the strategic importance of the Arctic region for both NATO and the EU.
“Greenland can rely on us politically, economically, and financially. The security of the Arctic region is, first and foremost, a key issue for NATO. However, I would like to stress that the Arctic and the security of the region are also among the European Union’s core priorities and are of great importance to us. For this reason, we are increasing our investments in and support for the island.”
Following a meeting at the White House between the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance, Danish and Greenlandic officials stated that the United States’ position on the island had not changed. After these remarks, some European countries began to consider sending troops to Greenland.
Prior to the meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump had called on Denmark to “withdraw from Greenland” and urged NATO to support Washington’s efforts to acquire the island. Trump also claimed that otherwise the island could fall under the control of Russia or China.