European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a firm message to Washington at the World Economic Forum in Davos, declaring that Greenland’s sovereignty is not subject to negotiation. Her remarks came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of new tariffs targeting European countries that have opposed American positions regarding the governance of the autonomous Danish territory.
Von der Leyen warned that escalating trade disputes risk undermining transatlantic relations at a time of growing global uncertainty. Arctic security, she argued, can only be ensured through cooperation among allies, not through economic pressure. Tariffs imposed on partners, she said, ultimately benefit strategic competitors rather than strengthening Western unity.
The European Union, she stressed, would respond to any trade measures in a united, resolute, and proportionate manner. At the same time, she pointed to existing EU-U.S. trade agreements, emphasizing that political commitments, once made, must retain their meaning.
Addressing broader geopolitical concerns, von der Leyen rejected claims that Europe is unable to protect Greenland from the influence of Russia and China. Instead, she called for deeper collaboration between Europe and the United States to secure the Arctic region, which is becoming increasingly strategic due to climate change and emerging shipping routes.
She proposed expanding European investments in icebreaking capabilities, surveillance technologies, and critical infrastructure necessary for Arctic security. Most notably, von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU’s full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, stating unequivocally that sovereignty and territorial integrity are “not negotiable.”
The European Union, she added, plans substantial investments to support Greenland’s economy and infrastructure, aiming to enhance the island’s resilience while respecting its political status. In parallel, the Commission seeks to strengthen security partnerships with countries such as Canada, Norway, Iceland, and the United Kingdom.
The dispute over Greenland has thus evolved into a broader test of transatlantic relations. As Washington increasingly uses trade tools to advance strategic interests, Brussels appears determined to draw clear boundaries. Von der Leyen’s stance signals that the EU is prepared not only to defend its economic interests, but also the foundational principles of international order.