Von der Leyen visits Greenland to sign new EU partnership deal

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Greenland on Sunday for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening cooperation between the European Union and the resource-rich island. Despite US President Donald Trump's claims of control over Greenland, the EU remains committed to a unique partnership with the autonomous territory.

Von der Leyen signed a new EU-Greenland declaration on Monday, with investment pledges expected to run into the hundreds of millions of euros. Upon her arrival, von der Leyen emphasized the close bond between the EU and Greenland, describing the relationship as a "family." She was greeted at Nuuk airport by Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Nielsen highlighted the visit as an opportunity to build on an already strong friendship and partnership, departing shortly after for an Arctic boat trip with von der Leyen and Frederiksen. The visit is politically significant as the US has been asserting its claims over Greenland, citing security interests and advocating for a potential sale of the island to the United States.

Trump argued that Denmark lacks the capacity to protect Greenland from Russia and China. The territory, home to approximately 57,000 inhabitants, also holds strategic value due to its abundant reserves of critical raw materials. Trump reiterated his claims on Greenland in July, linking them to a review of US troop deployments in Europe.

He suggested that the US might reduce its presence to deter Russian aggression if a satisfactory agreement on Greenland's future cannot be reached. The extent of Trump's current commitment to an earlier NATO agreement guaranteeing Arctic security remains uncertain. According to NATO sources, the US is also set to expand its military presence on the island and may gain some co-decision rights over certain investments.