EU pledges $232 million for Greenland as Arctic rivalry deepens
The EU announced a €200 million package for Greenland, aiming to boost education, infrastructure, and critical minerals while countering US pressure.
The European Union has pledged €200 million (about $232 million) to Greenland, in a move to strengthen ties with the Arctic island as geopolitical competition in the region intensifies.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the investment on Monday after signing a joint declaration with Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. "Greenland can count on the EU," von der Leyen said, describing the island as a "strategic ally and a trusted friend."
The package is designed to support education, fisheries, internet connectivity, hydropower, and the development of critical raw minerals. It also includes funding for housing, small businesses, and sustainable tourism.
The EU's overture comes amid repeated statements by former US President Donald Trump that the United States should take control of Greenland, citing security concerns. Those remarks have drawn sharp rebukes from Greenlandic and Danish leaders and have strained relations among NATO allies.
In January, Denmark and several European partners sent a small military contingent to Greenland for exercises, a move widely seen as a show of support for the island's sovereignty. Trump responded by threatening tariffs on Denmark and other European nations, though he later backed down after NATO agreed on an Arctic security arrangement.
Von der Leyen's visit coincides with Arctic Shield, a NATO exercise involving about 400 personnel from Canada, Denmark, and Finland, running from September 7 to 18. US troops are not participating.