Davos 2026: Ursula von der Leyen backs Greenland on Arctic security

Davos: Addressing the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed earlier calls of solidarity with Greenland against President Trump’s recent efforts to gain the land. The EU head, while labelling Trump’s tariff threats over the Danish territory as a ‘mistake’, further said Europe is willing to work ‘very closely’ with the US to ensure Arctic security.

She said the European Union and the United States reached a trade deal last July, stressing that agreements between allies must be respected, even as she warned that fresh geopolitical shocks and tariff threats are forcing Europe to pursue a new form of strategic independence.

“In politics as in business, a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something,” von der Leyen said during her speech in Davos, as the EU faces renewed pressure from proposed U.S. tariffs and heightened tensions over Greenland under U.S. President Donald Trump.


“Arctic security can only be achieved together,” she said, adding that Europe is preparing a dedicated package to support Arctic security and is upgrading its Arctic strategy as part of a broader push to strengthen its own security framework.

Turning to the broader geopolitical environment, she said a series of recent shocks is forcing the European Union to rethink its dependencies and build what she described as a “new independent Europe.”




“We will only be able to capitalise on this opportunity if we recognise that this change is permanent,” she said.

She said the EU had acted swiftly in recent years on energy security and access to raw materials and now needs to move with greater urgency to strengthen its economic and strategic resilience.

Von der Leyen also said the European Union is close to concluding a free trade agreement with India, describing it as potentially historic. “There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement,” she said, adding that the deal could create a market of nearly two billion people.

The session was moderated by Børge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum.