Europe will invest more in the Arctic after a showdown with Trump

There was unequivocal solidarity with Greenland and Denmark at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday evening.

That is what the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, says at a press conference after the summit ended shortly after midnight.

Here she expressed her satisfaction that Europe managed to stand together and stand firm against the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who both threatened to take over Greenland and impose extra tariffs on selected countries.

Now the EU must invest more in the Arctic to rebuild the relationship with the United States, von der Leyen believes:

– We have underinvested in security in the Arctic. We are now working to strengthen ties with Greenland, and in that context we will soon present an investment package.

– We also believe that we should use the increase in defense spending on equipment that can be used in the Arctic, such as icebreakers, for example, says von der Leyen.

The President of the EU, António Costa, states that the EU and the United States have long been partners and share a common interest in security in the Arctic.

– We will continue to engage in order to have a good relationship with the United States, says Costa.

At the same time, however, he calls for a new respect in the relationship after the recent weeks’ threats from the American side:

– We are always open-hearted with our allies. And we believe that the relationship with the United States must be polite and based on respect, says António Costa.

He states that after Trump’s decision to drop extra tariffs on European countries, the EU must now move forward with getting the trade agreement with the United States approved.

This is a concrete example that the EU will continue to reach out for trade with the United States despite the fierce confrontation over Greenland.

– We remain ready to enter into dialogue with the United States on the issues that are of our common interest, says Costa.

The trade agreement still lacks the approval of the European Parliament.