EU, Greenland set for security talks as US pressure mounts

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Greenland on August 30-31 for talks with Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the prime minister of the Faroe Islands, as Brussels seeks to underscore the European Union’s role in Arctic security and cooperation.

The visit was announced by European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho at a press conference in Brussels. Pinho said von der Leyen will sign a joint declaration between the EU and Greenland during her stay.

“This visit underscores Europe's commitment to the Arctic, to its security and cooperation, a key priority for the European Union,” Pinho said.

Von der Leyen will be accompanied by Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela and EU special adviser for Arctic relations Jyrki Katainen.

The trip comes against the backdrop of repeated US statements this year concerning Greenland, including claims that Washington’s interest in the Arctic island is driven by national security considerations. The United States has also threatened tariffs against several EU member states over their participation in a military observation mission on Greenland.

Von der Leyen had initially been scheduled to visit Greenland in February, but the trip was postponed after Denmark called early parliamentary elections for March 24.

Her upcoming visit will be her second to the Arctic island. She previously traveled to Greenland in March 2024, ahead of the opening of an EU office in Nuuk, the Greenlandic capital, in 2025.

The European Commission president has previously highlighted Brussels’ “very good connection” with Greenland’s population and stressed that the island’s future should ultimately be determined by its own citizens.

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which is both an EU member state and a NATO ally. The island’s strategic location in the Arctic has made it an increasingly important focus of international security and geopolitical competition.

By Vafa Guliyeva