EU chief von der Leyen to visit Greenland on Sunday amid Trump takeover threats

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Why the EU Chief Is Going to Greenland: From Trump’s Takeover Threats to a ‘Northern Neighborhood’

Publication Date: 2026-09-05 05:00:01

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Greenland's capital on Sunday, seeking to shore up financial and diplomatic support for the Arctic island. The visit comes as U.S. President Donald Trump renews his push for greater American control of the self-governing Danish territory. Brussels is seeking a bigger role in Greenland’s security, infrastructure, and critical minerals.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends a press conference on the day of the European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 23, 2025. Yves Herman | Reuters

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Greenland's capital on Sunday, seeking to shore up support for the Arctic island against a backdrop of repeated threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

The EU chief is widely expected to announce fresh funding for the self-governing Danish territory during her second trip to Nuuk, made in the company of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

The visit comes shortly after Icelanders voted to reject restarting EU membership negotiations and as Trump renews his push to acquire Greenland on national security grounds.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen made a thinly veiled reference to Trump's pursuit to acquire the island ahead of Von der Leyen's visit.

"The EU has made clear its support for us in the geopolitical situation, while responding to our desire for even greater partnership. I look very much forward to the coming days and to share more about the importance of the Joint Declaration for Greenland," Nielsen said in a statement shared with CNBC.

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Analysts highlighted three key reasons for Von der Leyen's Greenland visit: Arctic security, economic and infrastructure investment, and broader cooperation in the North Atlantic and wider Arctic theater.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, did not respond to a CNBC request for comment ahead of Von der Leyen's visit. A spokesperson for Denmark's Foreign Ministry declined to comment.

Arctic Security

The EU chief's trip to Nuuk serves as a show of solidarity to both Greenland and Denmark at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, according to Kristina Spohr, professor in the Department of International History at the London School of Economics.

"We must never lose sight with what's going on with Russia and China. By that, I don't just mean the sabotage activity and hybrid warfare that we see, and the focus has now been on Germany, but actually again we have question marks over Russian trawlers around Svalbard," Spohr told CNBC by video call.

"We also see that the Chinese and Russians are doing dual-use scientific action in the Chukchi Sea, through the Bering Strait further north. And, of course, America has said they must not enter American national waters."

These security concerns also extend to the so-called GIUK gap, Spohr said, referring to a strategic maritime passage between Greenland, Iceland, and the U.K. that links the Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean.

Mads Claus Rasmussen | Afp | Getty Images

"So, it's very, very volatile … when actually one of our most important allies in the global scheme of things, the United States, is making life incredibly difficult, especially when it comes to Greenland and Denmark," she added.

Trump has long advocated for control of Greenland, a vast, sparsely populated and...