Von der Leyen pledges EU support for Greenland's sovereignty amid US tensions

Thursday 15 January 2026 - 18:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Von der Leyen pledges EU support for Greenland's sovereignty amid US tensions

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, affirmed that Greenland can rely on the European Union's backing as tensions escalate with the United States over President Donald Trump's expressed interest in acquiring the Danish autonomous territory. Speaking at a Brussels press conference on January 14, just hours before critical talks between Danish and Greenlandic officials and the Trump administration ended in what Denmark described as a fundamental disagreement, von der Leyen emphasized that the EU respects Greenlanders' wishes and interests, demonstrated through actions rather than mere words.

The diplomatic standoff prompted swift military responses from NATO's European allies. France, Germany, Norway, and Sweden have begun deploying troops to Greenland in solidarity with Denmark. French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that his country would send additional land, air, and maritime forces to join exercises, with around 15 French mountain infantry soldiers already on the ground in Nuuk. Macron stressed that France and its European partners must maintain a presence wherever their interests are threatened, without escalation but without compromise on territorial sovereignty. Germany dispatched a 13-member reconnaissance team to assess potential contributions to regional security.

Von der Leyen did not rule out invoking Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, the bloc's mutual defense clause, should the United States attempt a forcible takeover of Greenland. European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius earlier warned that any U.S. military move would spell the end of NATO and severely damage transatlantic ties, underscoring member states' obligation to provide mutual assistance, though the final call rests with Denmark. Legal questions persist over applying the clause to Greenland, which falls under Danish sovereignty but is not formally part of the EU.

Negotiations at the White House on January 14 between Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio yielded no progress. Rasmussen told reporters that the American stance remained unchanged, confirming Trump's intent to acquire Greenland. The parties agreed to form a high-level working group to explore common ground, with meetings slated in coming weeks. Trump, absent from the talks, later reiterated from the Oval Office that Greenland is vital for U.S. national security.