EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announces major investment surge in Greenland to counter US Arctic ambitions and uphold transatlantic trade deal.
DAVOS: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has announced plans for a “massive” European investment surge in Greenland.
She made the pledge at the World Economic Forum, aiming to counter US President Donald Trump’s threats to acquire the autonomous Danish territory for Arctic security.
“We are working on a massive European investment surge in Greenland,” von der Leyen stated, without providing specific financial figures.
She pledged the bloc would collaborate with the United States and other partners on wider Arctic security, calling it a shared interest.
The European Commission chief suggested investments could include a “European icebreaker capability and other equipment vital to the Arctic security.”
This would be funded through the EU’s ongoing increase in defence spending.
Von der Leyen also warned the United States against imposing punitive tariffs over Greenland, referencing last year’s transatlantic trade accord.
“In politics as in business — a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something,” she said.
She labelled the proposed additional tariffs a “mistake” and vowed a united European response.
Europe’s response to Trump’s repeated threats would be “unflinching, united and proportional,” she affirmed.
The EU chief warned that a trade conflict would only aid the adversaries both sides seek to exclude from the strategic landscape.
EU leaders are set to meet in Brussels for an extraordinary summit to forge a united response to Trump’s escalation over Greenland.
