EU Commission President Von der Leyen reaffirms solidarity with Greenland sovereignty

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) January 14, 2026 – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated Greenlanders can count on EU support amid escalating US threats to annex the territory, emphasising respect for their wishes and interests.

Von der Leyen made the comments ahead of White House talks where US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio host Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt. The statement follows Danish confirmation of strengthened military presence in Greenland alongside increased NATO Arctic exercises.

Von der Leyen spoke at a Brussels press conference stressing Greenland belongs to its people with decisions resting solely with Denmark and Greenland. Her remarks respond directly to President Donald Trump’s repeated annexation demands citing NATO strategic importance Arctic security positioning. Denmark requested the White House meeting to address tensions directly after Trump stated “one way or another, we’re going to have Greenland.”

Reuters correspondent covered the Commission statement. Guy Faulconbridge said in X post,

“BRUSSELS, Jan 14 (Reuters) – The European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday there is a strong relationship between the EU and Greenland and that Greenlanders could rely on the EU’s support.”

BRUSSELS, Jan 14 (Reuters) – The European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday there is a strong relationship between the EU and Greenland and that Greenlanders could rely on the EU’s support.

— Guy Faulconbridge (@GuyReuters) January 14, 2026

Trump escalates annexation threats citing nato arctic positioning

Credit (AP Photo)

President Trump reiterated Greenland acquisition necessity stating NATO becomes “far more formidable and effective” under US control during January 14 remarks. White House scheduled crunch talks follow Danish Greenlandic foreign ministers request moving discussions from public statements to direct dialogue. Vice President Vance Secretary Rubio hosted Rasmussen Motzfeldt addressing sovereignty security strategic positioning concerns.

Denmark’s Foreign Minister Rasmussen confirmed meeting purpose enables direct communication eye-to-eye discussion resolving escalation trajectory. Greenland Foreign Minister Motzfeldt accompanies Rasmussen presenting autonomous territory position Danish Realm constitutional framework international law protections.

Denmark strengthens military presence NATO Arctic coordination

Denmark’s Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced continued military reinforcement in Greenland alongside intensified NATO Arctic exercises ally coordination. Poulsen emphasised greater NATO presence exercises addressing Russian military activities Arctic strategic domain awareness requirements. Pituffik Space Base US Space Force operations Thule Air Base radar systems anchor Arctic defence infrastructure.

The Greenlandic government maintains Danish Realm membership rejecting independence proposals prioritising resource sovereignty foreign investment control. Naleraq party secured parliamentary majority in October 2025 elections rejecting Denmark autonomy expansion referendum 62% voter support resource control prioritisation.

Von der Leyen emphasises Greenland sovereignty international law

Credit (picture alliance / Panama Pictures)

Von der Leyen stressed Greenlanders know EU support through actions not words respecting wishes interests democratic sovereign choices. Commission President positioned EU strategic partner raw materials climate research Arctic security cooperation frameworks Danish Realm constitutional arrangements respect. Greenland Overseas Country Territory status secures €225 million 2021-2027 sustainable development green growth education funding.

EU Arctic Strategy designates Greenland essential partner climate security indigenous rights scientific cooperation frameworks. Von der Leyen previous Nuuk visits inaugurated EU Office cooperation agreements €94 million Global Gateway education clean energy critical raw materials investments.

White house talks address annexation sovereignty tensions directly

US Vice President JD Vance hosts Danish Greenlandic foreign minister White House January 14 addressing Trump annexation rhetoric and strategic security concerns. Secretary Rubio participates in discussions clarifying US NATO Arctic positioning Denmark Greenland constitutional arrangements and international law frameworks. Rasmussen emphasized that the meeting transforms public discussion and direct dialogue resolution pathway establishment.

Greenlandic Foreign Minister Motzfeldt represents autonomous government resource sovereignty positions rejecting foreign acquisition proposals. The Danish Realm constitutional framework protects Greenland self-determination democratic sovereign choices and international community recognition.

Commission committed €250 million critical minerals investment Anaa Kvanefjeld deposits reducing China rare earth processing dominance EU green transition supply chain diversification. Von der Leyen Nielsen established 2023 strategic partnership €150 million research funding sustainable development climate adaptation Arctic security frameworks. Greenland rare earth deposits 25% global reserves lithium graphite strategic EU supply chain diversification priorities.

EU Critical Raw Materials Act coordinates Greenland sovereign ownership requirements 10% EU consumption domestic extraction 40% processing compatibility. Partnership includes environmental standards technology transfer local content 45% Greenlandic workforce training programmes sustainable development enforcement.

Lord Bebo referenced military implications. Lord Bebo said in X post,

“”We respect wishes & interests of Greenlanders. They can count on us” — EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen *they can count on your military defense, you mean?”

🇪🇺🇬🇱 “We respect wishes & interests of Greenlanders. They can count on us”

— EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen

*they can count on your military defense, you mean? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/EUvmHEQoe9

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 14, 2026

Fisheries trade sustains €2.2 billion annual eu imports volume

EU imports 92% Greenland fisheries exports €2.2 billion annual trade volume strategic partnership sustainable management MSC certification frameworks. Commission supports blue fin tuna cod shrimp quotas vessel monitoring marine spatial planning technical assistance cooperation. Greenland fisheries employs 2,800 direct 5,200 indirect jobs 25% GDP contribution sustainable certification market access priorities.

Von der Leyen Nielsen discussed fisheries partnership expansion aquaculture development marine protected areas establishment bilateral agreements coordination. Greenland preferential EU market access Overseas Country Territory status secures tariff-free fisheries products quota preferences.

The Commission allocated €75 million Ilulissat Icefjord monitoring climate adaptation satellite remote sensing indigenous knowledge integration. Von der Leyen visited Greenland National Park research station discussing permafrost monitoring sea ice Arctic biodiversity baselines. Copernicus satellite data access supports Greenland climate services early warning systems development.

Greenland ice sheet mass loss 270 gigatonnes annually contributes 0.7mm global sea level rise EU funding predictive modelling coastal erosion adaptation measures. Nuuk Ilulissat Sisimiut communities receive coastal protection infrastructure relocation technical assistance.

Naleraq government prioritises resource sovereignty positions

Naleraq 28% vote share October elections secured parliamentary majority rejecting Denmark autonomy expansion referendum proposals resource control prioritisation. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen coalition programme emphasises Greenlandic majority ownership foreign investment sustainable development standards. Anaa rare earth mine 2026 production 15,000 tonnes annual capacity Kvanefjeld uranium deposits development strategic partnerships.

EU respects Naleraq democratic mandate sovereign resource decisions strategic partnership deepening commitment Danish Realm framework maintenance. Greenland balances Danish fiscal transfers €600 million annually 60% budget funding resource development EU cooperation frameworks.

EU office nuuk coordinates Arctic strategy implementation

EU Office Nuuk facilitates collaboration between government private sector civil society and EU public private investments coordination. Von der Leyen inaugurated the office establishing Europe’s concrete Arctic presence, education and renewable energy critical raw materials biodiversity cooperation. Annual ministerial meetings expert working groups coordinate raw materials fisheries research security implementation roadmaps.

Greenland participates in EU Arctic Forum observer status scientific cooperation frameworks established policy dialogue preferential trade arrangements. Commission Arctic Office coordinates member states research institutions indigenous organisations cooperation networks oversight mechanisms.

NATO Arctic presence addresses Russian military activities

Denmark coordinates NATO Arctic Command Nuuk operations centre Greenland Strategic Council defence security cooperation frameworks. US Space Force Pituffik Space Base missile warning radar systems Thule Air Base icebreaker operations search rescue capabilities. Von der Leyen confirmed EU support for Greenland Arctic security contributions Danish Realm NATO membership frameworks ally coordination.

Denmark intensifies military presence exercises NATO ally dialogue responding to Russian Arctic military infrastructure expansion submarine patrols positioning. Greenlandic government maintains neutral resource sovereignty positions Danish Realm defence responsibilities international law frameworks.

Indigenous rights guide partnership consultation standards

Von der Leyen Nielsen affirmed Inuit Ataqatigiit indigenous rights Free Prior Informed Consent resource projects environmental impact assessments. Partnership respects UN Declaration Indigenous Peoples Rights ILO 169 consultation standards local benefit sharing mechanisms enforcement. Greenlandic majority ownership foreign investment sustainable development prioritised international standards compliance.

The Commission supports indigenous knowledge integration, climate research biodiversity monitoring traditional ecological knowledge systems and scientific cooperation. Community consultations coordinate Naleraq government resource sovereignty democratic mandate international community recognition.

Greenland GDP 92% fisheries exports €2.8 billion annual revenue international market fluctuations vulnerability diversification imperatives. EU partnership supports tourism development sustainable Arctic experiences cultural heritage preservation infrastructure investments cooperation. Von der Leyen announced €75 million tourism strategy airport improvements cruise terminal capacity visitor centres establishment.

Tourism employs 1,200 direct 2,800 indirect jobs 8% GDP contribution growth potential strategic partnership market access priorities. Commission technical assistance sustainable tourism certification environmental carrying capacity management frameworks implementation.

Scientific cooperation builds research capacity networks

EU Arctic research funding €150 million supports Greenland Institute Natural Resources climate biodiversity monitoring stations capacity building. Von der Leyen visited a research station announcing permafrost monitoring expansion of sea ice Arctic ecosystem baselines establishment coordination. Marie Curie fellowships Greenlandic researchers EU institutions PhD masters scholarships Arctic specialisation pathways.

Copernicus satellite data climate services early warning systems marine spatial planning cooperation frameworks local communities benefit. Greenland National Park Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO monitoring satellite remote sensing predictive modelling adaptation measures implementation.

Commission €100 million coastal adaptation funding Nuuk Ilulissat Sisimiut sea level rise permafrost thaw infrastructure protection. Von der Leyen visited erosion projects announcing technical assistance engineering solutions indigenous knowledge integration early warning systems. 56 communities coastal erosion vulnerability relocation protection measures sustainable development priorities coordination.

Greenland climate services development marine weather forecasting local communities resilience building long-term frameworks establishment. EU Global Gateway investments clean energy critical raw materials skills education sustainable prosperity pathways implementation.

Strategic council oversees partnership implementation roadmap

Greenland-EU Strategic Council annual progress reports European Parliament Council Danish Folketing oversight mechanisms coordination. Von der Leyen Nielsen established 2026-2030 implementation roadmap priority actions monitoring evaluation frameworks establishment. Commission Arctic Strategy incorporates Greenland partnership indigenous knowledge scientific cooperation Arctic security priorities.

EU demonstrates support actions supporting Greenlanders wishes and democratic sovereign choices in international law frameworks. Von der Leyen positioned EU reliable strategic partner raw materials climate research security cooperation Danish Realm constitutional arrangements with respect.