Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 7, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleEU Council President Costa reaffirms support for Greenland's sovereignty, countering Trump's interest and emphasizing adherence to international law.
NICOSIA, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The European Union will support Greenland and Denmark when needed and will not accept violations of international law no matter where they occur, EU Council President Antonio Costa said on Wednesday.
"On Greenland, allow me to be clear: Greenland belongs to its people. Nothing can be decided about Denmark and about Greenland without Denmark, or without Greenland," Costa said in a speech marking the assumption by Cyprus of the rotating presidency of the EU.
"They have the full support and solidarity of the European Union," he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeated in recent days that he wants to gain control of Greenland, as he argues the island is key for U.S. military strategy and claims Denmark has not done enough to protect it.
Costa said Cyprus was taking the helm of the EU Council at a time when the international rules-based order was under attack, and urged EU member states to stand up against these developments.
"The European Union cannot accept violations of international law - whether in Cyprus, Latin America, Greenland, Ukraine or Gaza," Costa said.
"Europe will remain a firm and unwavering champion of international law and multilateralism."
(Reporting by Andrew Gray, editing by Bart Meijer)
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, known for its vast natural resources and strategic location. It plays a vital role in international relations, especially regarding Arctic policies.
The EU Council President is responsible for representing the EU at the highest level, facilitating discussions among member states, and guiding the EU's agenda and policies during their presidency.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
