Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has called for stronger cooperation with the European Union, despite recent threats from U.S. President Donald Trump over potential annexation of the Arctic territory.
Delivering the first-ever address by a Greenlandic leader to the European Parliament, Nielsen said his appearance came at the end of “a dramatic year for Greenland.”
“The world is changing—and changing fast,” he told lawmakers. “Greenland needs the European Union, and the European Union needs Greenland.”
Greenland’s Strategic Value and EU Cooperation
Calling the EU “a steadfast friend in challenging times,” Nielsen emphasized the island’s vast reserves of rare earth elements and critical minerals, which he said could “shift global power balances and security dynamics.”
“Greenland is ready to move forward with the EU to accelerate investment,” he said, adding that the government seeks support from the European Investment Bank for projects in infrastructure and raw materials.
The prime minister, dressed in a blue anorak as he addressed MEPs, acknowledged past tensions, particularly over the EU’s ban on seal products, which hurt Greenland’s traditional hunting industry. His speech concluded to a standing ovation from several members of Parliament.
Deepening Ties Amid U.S. Pressure
Greenland and the EU have strengthened their diplomatic engagement since Trump’s assertive remarks earlier this year, when he refused to rule out sending troops or using economic pressure to gain control of the territory.
Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said in May that the island is exploring a stronger trade partnership with the EU in energy and minerals—resources Trump has also expressed interest in.
However, Nielsen clarified that Greenland does not intend to rejoin the EU. The island left the European Communities, the EU’s predecessor, in 1985 after a public referendum. While its citizens hold Danish—and therefore EU—passports, Greenland remains outside the Union.
“We Will Not Join Another Country”
“Let me be clear,” Nielsen told reporters. “We are not going to join another country, and we have no plans to become an EU member.”
Although Trump has been largely silent on Greenland in recent months, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Tuesday that his interest is unlikely to fade completely. “Copenhagen and Nuuk cannot afford to breathe a sigh of relief,” she said.
Speaking ahead of his address, Nielsen noted that Greenland remains open to cooperation with the United States—but only under international norms. “It must be based on mutual respect and adherence to international law,” he said, urging Washington to adopt a “respectful tone.”
