Europe must firmly back Greenland: “Sovereignty is not for sale”

Federal MP Kathleen Depoorter has submitted a resolution to the Belgian Federal Parliament stating clearly and unequivocally that the future of Greenland must be determined solely by the Greenlandic people. The move comes in response to recent statements and ambitions from the United States regarding Greenland.

“When major powers believe they can redraw borders with money, pressure, or threats, we are at a dangerous turning point,” warns Depoorter.

The resolution underlines that Greenland is not a commodity to be traded, nor a piece of geopolitical bargaining chip, but the homeland of a people with their own voice and an inalienable right to self-determination. It explicitly refers to international law and to the 2009 Danish self-government agreement as the legal framework within which any decision about Greenland’s future must be made.

Violation of international law

According to Depoorter, the issue touches on a broader European principle.
“If Europe lets this slide today, we are undermining not just the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark, but also our own,” she argues.

The resolution stresses that any attempt at interference or forced acquisition of Greenland would constitute a blatant violation of the UN Charter and would set a dangerous precedent for other European states. Sovereignty and territorial integrity are not negotiable concepts.

The Arctic region’s growing strategic importance

The resolution also highlights the increasing strategic importance of the Arctic region and clearly states that security can never be separated from values. Europe must not remain a passive bystander in a region where power politics is becoming more and more overt.

Specifically, the resolution calls for a stronger EU and NATO presence in the Arctic, a unified European stance against external pressure, and an acceleration of Europe’s strategic autonomy in defence and security.

“This is a moment of truth for Europe,” concludes Depoorter. “Either we stand up for our values when it truly matters, or we send the message that borders and rights can be bargained away. And that is something we must never accept.”