The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, begins a two-day visit to Greenland where she will reiterate the European Union's support for the Danish autonomous territory and sign a joint declaration. During the visit, the head of the EU executive will meet with the Greenlandic prime minister, Jens-Frederick Nielsen, and with the leaders of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, and the Faroe Islands, Beinir Johannesen. Von der Leyen travels accompanied by the European commissioner for International Partnerships, Josef Sikela, and by former Finnish prime minister Jyrki Katainen, advisor for Arctic relations.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his intention to control Greenland, including by force, a territory rich in mineral resources. Last Wednesday, in Brussels, Greenland's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mute Bourup Egede, reiterated in a debate at the European Parliament that the times when it was possible to "take a country" are over and assured that dialogue with the United States on the situation continues.
Von der Leyen's visit takes place in a context of international tensions regarding Greenland. An Arctic summit is scheduled for September 13 and 14 in Rovaniemi, Finland.
