The statements by the president of the European Council come after Donald Trump announced that he is actively considering the purchase of Greenland. António Costa stressed that Europe will continue to defend international law and multilateralism, rejecting violations anywhere in the world.
The president of the European Council defended, this Wednesday, that Greenland “belongs to its people” and “nothing can be decided” about the territory without his participation or that of Denmark, adding that they have “the full support” of the EU.
“About Greenland, let me be clear: Greenland belongs to its people. Nothing can be decided about Denmark and Greenland without Denmark or without Greenland”, said António Costa in a speech in Nicosia, at the opening ceremony of the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU.
The President of the European Council stated that both Greenland like Denmark “they count on the full support and solidarity of the EU” and ensured that the “Europe will continue to firmly and unwaveringly defend international law and multilateralism.”
António Costa made these statements after highlighting that the “history of occupation and division of Cyprus” makes the country have a particular notion of “importance of the value of international law for peace and stability between nations”.
“Europe is not just a geographical reference, it is a community of values”, he said, highlighting that the EU’s “collective strength” is not just based on a “prosperous economy or greater investment in Defense”.
“It depends, above all, on the consistency with which we defend these values. That is why the EU cannot accept violations of international law, whether in Cyprus, Latin America, Greenland, Ukraine or Gaza”, he stated, in an apparent allusion, with regard to Latin America, to the United States attack on Venezuela.
The President of the European Council stressed that Europeans know, due to their history, that unilateralism opens up a “fast track to conflict, violence and instability”adding that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “He demonstrated this very clearly again.”
“The EU’s unconditional support for Ukraine represents a clear defense of these principles [consagrados na Carta das Nações Unidas] shared by nations around the world. That is why we will continue to fight for a fair and lasting peace”, he stated, highlighting that the Cypriot presidency of the EU Council, in the first half of 2026, comes at a “critical moment to continue supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine”.
Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland
The White House announced that the President of the United States, after, on Tuesday, the White House spokeswoman, Caroline Leavitthaving stated that “all options are on the table”, including the military one.
These statements provoked reactions in Europe, with several countries reiterating their support for Copenhagen, while the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksenwarned that a possible US attack on a NATO member would represent “the end” of the post-war international security order.
Donald Trump’s administration has justified its interest in Greenland with the need to reinforce control over the Arctic region and prevent the advance of China and Russia in an area considered strategic, despite existing treaties already allowing US military presence on the island.
