BRUSSELS — European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled on Monday a 200-million-euro ($232 million) funding package deal for Greenland, because the European Union seeks to spice up its relations with the huge island.
“Greenland can depend on the EU,” von der Leyen stated, after signing an EU-Greenland declaration with Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Greenland is a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.
The EU has elevated its concentrate on Greenland since U.S. President Donald Trump started insisting that the USA should take control of the island for safety causes.
Von der Leyen stated the funding partnership “will create new alternatives and a robust and engaged EU in each Greenland and the Arctic, as a result of Greenland is a strategic ally and a trusted pal.”
It goals to assist Greenland enhance training and fisheries, web connectivity, hydropower programs, and using important uncooked minerals. Funds are additionally earmarked for higher housing, assist to small companies and sustainable tourism.
Trump’s persistent claims on the island raised sovereignty concerns and pushback from Greenlandic and Danish leaders and heightened tensions amongst NATO allies.
Denmark and 7 of its European allies despatched a small group of army personnel to the island in January, publicly for army workout routines centered on strengthening Arctic safety, however with the intention of displaying assist for Greenland’s sovereignty.
In response, Trump threatened to slap new tariffs on all of them: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK.
“Tariff threats undermine trans-Atlantic relations and danger a harmful downward spiral,” they stated in a press release. “We’re dedicated to upholding our sovereignty.”
Trump ultimately backed down after NATO agreed to a safety deal within the Arctic area.
Von der Leyen’s go to got here as 11 NATO nations started army workout routines in Greenland on Monday involving round 400 army personnel, together with particular forces troops educated to function in Arctic circumstances from Canada, Denmark and Finland.
No U.S. troops are collaborating within the Arctic Defend drills, which run Sept. 7-18.
