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Prime Minister Nielsen: Greenland needs the EU, and vice versa

by AI | 08.Oct 2025 | Europe in brief AI

“Greenland needs the European Union and the European Union needs Greenland,” said Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during a speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Photo: EFE/EPA/NIKOLAI LINARES DENMARK OUT

STRASBOURG (ANP) – He called the EU a “stable, reliable, and important partner for more than forty years.”

The prime minister stated that 2025 has so far been a “dramatic year” for Greenland. In the spring, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed a desire to add the resource-rich and strategically located country to the United States. Nielsen has repeatedly stated that Trump will not get Greenland. EU member state Denmark, of which Greenland is a part, supports him in this.

The 34-year-old Nielsen referred to the EU as a “steadfast friend.” “Thank you for your support during the challenging times we are currently experiencing.” He did not specifically mention the U.S.

The EU aims to strengthen cooperation with Greenland, particularly due to the minerals the country possesses. These are needed for, among other things, making batteries for renewable energy. “Our minerals can make a difference for the green transition in the EU,” said Nielsen.

The European Commission wants to double the financial commitment to Greenland in the next multiannual budget (2028-2034) from 225 to 530 million. Additionally, European Commissioner Dan Jørgensen (Energy) and several Members of the European Parliament have visited Greenland in recent weeks. Furthermore, Nielsen was the first Greenlandic prime minister to attend the meeting of European leaders in Copenhagen last week.

(October 8, 2025)