The European Commission emphasized the importance of respecting the sovereignty of EU member states and reiterated Greenland’s protection under the EU’s collective defense framework following comments by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about the possibility of the U.S. purchasing the Arctic island. Trump also suggested that military force might be an option to bring Greenland under U.S. control, according to reports by AFP and EFE.
Speaking at a daily press conference, European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho described the scenario as “highly theoretical.” She clarified that Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty, which addresses collective defense, would apply to Greenland if such a situation arose. However, she refrained from elaborating further, urging against comparisons to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “We see no need at this point to go beyond what has already been stated,” Pinho asserted.
Article 42.7 ensures solidarity among EU nations in the event of an armed attack on one member state, mirroring NATO’s Article 5.
Another Commission spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, emphasized the need to respect member state sovereignty and called for maintaining strong transatlantic relations. Addressing Trump’s suggestion that NATO members increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, Hipper noted that the EU does not have such a target. Current EU defense spending stands at approximately 1.9% of GDP, but she acknowledged that Europe must intensify its defense efforts in response to threats such as Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Olof Gill, the EU’s trade spokesperson, dismissed Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on the EU if Denmark refused to negotiate the sale of Greenland. He described the matter as “hypothetical” given the administration’s pending inauguration on January 20.
This is not the first time Trump has raised the idea of acquiring Greenland. During his previous term, he proposed a similar purchase, which Denmark categorically rejected. Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty, has the right to declare independence but has not taken this step. Its economy relies heavily on fishing and Danish subsidies, despite the island’s vast natural resources, including oil and gas.
Strategically, Greenland holds significance for the U.S. due to the Pituffik air base, which plays a critical role in early ballistic missile warning systems.
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