Greenland's future

von der Leyen: EU stands in solidarity with Denmark

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expresses her full support for Denmark.

"Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. These principles are crucial not only for the European Union, but for nations all over the world," she writes on X.

The statement comes after the new US envoy to Greenland said that he would work to make Greenland American.

The American announcement has sparked strong reactions, and several countries - including Sweden - have expressed their support for Denmark.

"Sweden wholeheartedly supports our neighboring country"

Denmark and Greenland decide on issues that concern Denmark and Greenland. This is emphasized by Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) in a written statement to TT.

“Sweden wholeheartedly supports our neighbor on these issues and will always stand up for international law,” she writes.

The EU also emphasizes that preserving Denmark’s “territorial integrity, its sovereignty and inviolability is of crucial importance to the European Union,” writes Reuters.

The move comes after the US’s newly appointed special envoy for Greenland, Jeff Landry, said he wanted to “make Greenland part of the United States.”

Expert: All the kind words and money have had no effect

When the US’s new special envoy expressed the desire for Greenland to belong to the US, Denmark’s investments in Greenland, its efforts to defend the Arctic and the kind words directed at the Americans have proven to be of no importance. Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen, a professor of political science at the University of Copenhagen, told Reuters.

TV2's Lotte Mejlhede writes in a quick analysis that the statement about Greenland is close to the new American security strategy that was published in early December.

"It was published a few weeks ago and describes how the US wants to have significantly greater control over the Western Hemisphere, which includes Greenland. The US wants to secure access to both military and commercial interests," writes Mejlhede.