Brussels on Wednesday unveiled long-term budget plans that would double EU funding for Greenland—the Arctic island at the heart of tensions with the United States—as well as other overseas territories.
The funding increase is part of a wider package of extra spending measures proposed by the European Commission for the EU’s 2028–2034 budget, most of which was outlined in July.
Under the proposal, Greenland would stand to receive 530 million euros ($618 million) in support, more than twice the amount slated for the autonomous Danish territory under the current budget, the commission said.
Altogether, nearly €1 billion is set to be distributed among the 13 overseas countries and territories (OCTs) linked to the EU, including Aruba in the Caribbean and French Polynesia.
“OCTs are of high geopolitical and strategic importance to the EU as they play a vital role as critical outposts of the Union in their geographical areas,” the commission said in a statement.
Since returning to the White House in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stressed that the United States requires Greenland—strategically located and rich in resources—for security purposes.
Both Denmark and Greenland have insisted the island is not for sale and that it will decide its future itself.
