Media: EU leaders to meet in Hamburg on North Sea security, Greenland tensions

European leaders will convene on January 26 in Hamburg, Germany, to discuss North Sea security and issues surrounding Greenland.

Formally, the meeting focuses on cross-border projects in offshore wind energy, the hydrogen market, and interconnected maritime infrastructure in the North Sea, France24 reports.

However, a significant portion of discussions is expected to centre on Arctic security following US President Donald Trump’s statements about potential control over Greenland.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who visited Greenland on Friday, will attend, alongside representatives from NATO and the European Commission. Leaders from Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, Belgium, and Luxembourg are also expected, while the United Kingdom and France will be represented by their ministers.

Other topics include security in the North and Baltic Seas, areas European countries say have long faced so-called hybrid threats. Russian-linked cargo ships are suspected of sabotaging undersea communication cables and monitoring critical infrastructure.

Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the key themes of the meeting would be maritime security and “shared economic success in the North.” He emphasised that the goal is to make the North Sea “the world's largest reservoir of clean energy,” which he described as crucial for a strong and independent Europe.

In Hamburg, representatives of nine European countries are expected to sign a declaration to develop offshore wind farms in the North Sea, with a planned completion by 2050. 

Leaders will also address US statements regarding potential agreements on Greenland, with Frederiksen reiterating that Greenland’s sovereign status is non-negotiable.

By Jeyhun Aghazada