Europe needs deeper relationship with Greenland in wake of Trump threats, says Andrews

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews has said that Europe should look to deepen its relationship with Greenland, in wake of Donald Trump’s threatened annexation of the Danish territory.

The American President has resurrected his quixotic plans to buy Greenland, and has threatened military action.

The threat of military action has drawn a major wedge between America and it’s historic partners in NATO, along with Europe as a whole.

Andrews, who was appointed as a ‘rapporteur’ for the Parliament’s position on EU-Greenland relations, said “given the increasing threats of President Trump to Greenland, we must deepen our relations with the island and make clear that we want them to remain politically part of Europe.”

“The Commission has proposed an updated association agreement for EU-Greenland relations, as part of the next EU long term budget (2028-34) and I will be the author of Parliament’s position in response. On behalf of the Parliament, I will be pushing for a deeper relationship with Greenland based on our strategic interests.

Andrews stated that Europe has a “strong” pre-existing fishing relationship with Greenalnd, along with renewable energy and “critical” raw materials.

“Most of the critical raw materials strategically important to Europe can be found in Greenland,” Andrews noted.

“Greenland also is part of EU funding programmes for research, development and Erasmus. In the last long term EU budget, the EU support totalled over €220 million. The Commission has proposed to double this funding to Greenland.

“Of course, the future of Greenland will be decided by Denmark and the Greenlanders but given the current geopolitical situation, I will be pushing for an increased level of EU funding to Greenland in line with both our strategic interests,” the Fianna Fáil MEP said.