Brussels – Donald Trump has yet to assume office in the White House, but he is already causing ripples among Washington’s closest allies. His threats to annex Greenland—as well as Panama and Canada—pose a deeply concerning challenge for the European Union, which has been grappling for months to formulate its strategy for engaging with the incoming U.S. President.
At a press conference on 7 January, the U.S. President-elect did not rule out using military coercion to seize control of the world’s largest island. This followed a post on his social media platform The Truth, where he stated that “Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation.” In response to a question about economic or military options, Trump said that “I can’t assure you on either of those two, but I can say this: we need them for economic security.” He also added that he would consider imposing tariffs on Denmark “at a very high level” if Copenhagen resisted his request to acquire the autonomous territory.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede—an advocate for Nuuk’s independence from Denmark—emphasised that “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland. Our future and fight for independence is our business.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed that the autonomous territory “is not for sale, and will not be in the future either.”
Germany and France strongly opposed the U.S. President-elect’s threats against an EU Member State. “The principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country, no matter whether it is a very small one or a very powerful one,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that “there is obviously no question that the European Union would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders.”
The European Commission’s response was notably more cautious—and weaker—when it was pressed by journalists during the daily press briefing on 8 December. “As a matter of principle, it is clear that the sovereignty of states must be respected,” stated EEAS spokesperson Anitta Hipper, offering a brief reply. Chief spokesperson Paula Pinho reminded that Nuuk benefits from the mutual defence clause set out in Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), but the threats from Washington are purely “theoretical.”
The state of EU-Greenland relations
Greenland joined the European Union in 1973 as part of the Kingdom of Denmark. However, after gaining autonomy in 1979, Nuuk withdrew its membership in 1985. The main reason for leaving was disagreements about the Common Fisheries Policy. Despite no longer being a member, since then Greenland has maintained close ties with Brussels and is officially classified as an Overseas Territory associated with the EU.
Nuuk has some integration with the EU’s internal market through association agreements. Its authorities and organisations are eligible for EU funding, and Greenlandic citizens are granted EU citizenship. Since 2021, the two partners have implemented a protocol under the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA), which will remain in effect until 2030. EU cooperation with Greenland is governed by Part IV of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the 2021 Council Decision on the Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories with the European Union.
In 2015, Denmark, Greenland, and the EU signed a joint declaration on closer relations. Following the UK’s Brexit in 2021, discussions in Nuuk about rejoining the EU have reignited. A survey published by Nasiffik – Centre for Foreign & Security Policy in December 2024 revealed for the first time that 60% of Greenlandic citizens would vote in favour of rejoining the EU, up from 40% in 2021.
“It was quite surprising, because there is no real public debate in Greenland about rejoining the EU,” Rasmus Leander Nielsen, Head of Nasiffik and one of the authors of the survey, told The New Union Post. However, “in purely economic terms, there would definitely be benefits, even though Greenland is already in a fairly strong position,” Nielsen added. He emphasised that “fishing quotas and funding for education are the main areas of interest” for Nuuk in its relations with Brussels, “particularly in light of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework.”
