Greenland is seeking closer ties with the European Union after getting more financial support from the bloc, a rebuke to US President Donald Trump’s ambition to woo the Arctic territory.
The island, which is part of the Danish kingdom but not a member of the EU, wants to “expand and strengthen” its partnership with Brussels, Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Thursday.
“We see great opportunities in a closer cooperation with the EU to benefit the Greenlandic people and development,” Nielsen said, speaking to media on the sidelines of a meeting of the European Political Community in Copenhagen.
The EU plans to double its financial support for Greenland in its coming multi-year budget, to €530 million ($620 million) from €225 million, according to the Commission. It’s also boosting outlays to other overseas countries and territories.
While Greenland’s premier said he’s not opposed to collaborating with the US, he hinted at a preference for Europe, saying that any partnership needs to be “a respectful and equal.” Still, an EU membership is not in the cards “for now,” he said.
Trump has said he would invest “billions of dollars” and make Greenlanders rich if he succeeds in annexing the territory, but his remarks have only caused them to become warier of US collaboration and nudged the island closer to Denmark and Europe. Denmark last month committed $250 million for Greenland’s infrastructure, on top of roughly $650 million in yearly subsidies.
Posted by John3262005