EU Chief to Visit Greenland Amid US Tensions

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to visit Greenland next month, her office confirmed Thursday, as the EU aims to strengthen economic and strategic ties with the autonomous Danish territory.

The visit comes in the wake of last year’s diplomatic tension sparked by US President Donald Trump, who had proposed taking control of Greenland before ultimately stepping back. Trump had cited the island’s mineral wealth and strategic location in the Arctic as critical for US and NATO security amid competition with Russia and China.

Von der Leyen’s visit will include a package of initiatives aimed at boosting European investment in Greenland. In January, she pledged a “massive European investment surge” for the island to reinforce Brussels’ presence in the region.

While Trump recently claimed to have reached a “framework” agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated last week that she still believes the US president has ambitions to control Greenland.

NATO has meanwhile launched a mission to strengthen Arctic security, and the US has opened discussions with Greenlandic and Danish authorities, reflecting the growing strategic importance of the region.