“Territorial integrity sovereignty, the inviolability of borders, these are fundamental principles of international law,” von der Leyen told a press conference alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen.<\/p>\n
Von der Leyen also announced the EU-Greenland Partnership Package<\/a>,\u00a0which comes on top of the doubling of direct EU aid to Greenland, intended to support the development of concrete projects.<\/p>\n Von der Leyen said the investment partnership “will create new opportunities and a strong and engaged EU in both Greenland and the Arctic, because Greenland is a strategic ally and a trusted friend.”<\/p>\n ‘American? No!’ says Greenland after latest Trump threat<\/a><\/p>\n It will also help Greenland improve education and fisheries, internet connectivity, hydropower systems, and the use of critical raw minerals. Funds are also earmarked for better housing, support to small businesses and sustainable tourism.<\/p>\n US President Donald Trump\u2019s persistent claims on the island have raised sovereignty\u00a0concerns and pushback\u00a0from Greenlandic and Danish leaders and heightened\u00a0tensions\u00a0among NATO<\/a> allies.<\/p>\n Denmark and seven of its European allies sent a small group of military personnel to the island in January, publicly for military exercises<\/a> focused on strengthening Arctic<\/a> security, but with the intention of showing support for Greenland\u2019s sovereignty.<\/p>\n A Danish serviceman climbs out of a hatch on the bow of the military vessel HDMS Knud Rasmussen of the Royal Danish Navy docked in Nuuk, Greenland, on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n In response, Trump threatened to slap\u00a0new tariffs\u00a0on all the participating nations: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n “Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” they said in a statement. “We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”<\/p>\n Trump eventually backed down after NATO<\/a> agreed to a security deal in the Arctic region.<\/p>\n Von der Leyen\u2019s visit came as 11 NATO countries began military exercises in Greenland on Monday involving around 400 military personnel, including special forces troops trained to operate in Arctic conditions from Canada, Denmark and Finland.<\/p>\n No US troops are taking part in the Arctic Shield drills, which run 7-18 September.<\/p>\n In show of support, Canada and France open consulates in Greenland<\/a><\/p>\n US military presence in Greenland<\/p>\n The US already has a substantial military presence on the island, dating back to World War II.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 1941, the Danish ambassador to Washington, Henrik Kaufmann, signed a defence agreement<\/a> granting American forces almost unlimited rights to establish bases and installations on the island to protect it from Nazi Germany.<\/p>\n By the end of the war, the US had built 17 installations across Greenland, including major air bases at Narsarsuaq and Sondrestrom, as well as weather stations, radio beacons, ports, depots and artillery posts.<\/p>\n Greenland\u2019s strategic importance grew massively since the Cold War: in 1951, under a new Greenland Defence Agreement<\/a>, Washington constructed the top-secret Thule Air Base (now Pituffik Space Base) in north-west Greenland, placing it near the shortest route to the Soviet Union.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/a9b66e26-9ba2-4c2f-ac88-1c65b20d82bc.jpg\"\/)
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