- 'The whole situation in Greenland has changed,' he tells Anadolu. 'Today Greenland is much more open to negotiations again with the EU than it has been before'
BERLIN
As US President Donald Trump's push to acquire Greenland continues to rattle Denmark and its autonomous territory, a growing debate has emerged about whether Greenland should rejoin the European Union.
Tom Hoyem, former Danish minister responsible for Greenland, told Anadolu that the escalating global tensions and the US-Israel war with Iran could shift public opinion and reshape the Arctic island’s relationship with the 27-member bloc.
"Greenland left the European Union in 1985, but today Greenland is much more open to negotiations again with the EU than it has been before," Hoyem said, noting that many now see rejoining as a path to economic benefits and greater security.
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, citing national security concerns over growing Russian and Chinese influence as Arctic ice melts and new shipping routes open. He has even threatened military action.
Hoyem, who served as Denmark's minister for Greenland from 1982 to 1987, emphasized the importance of strong alliances as a shield against uncertainty. "The more they are allied with other European countries, the more security they have," he stressed.
Why Greenlanders chose to leave
Greenland voted to leave the EU’s predecessor, the European Economic Community, in a 1982 referendum. With 52% of voters opposing membership -- largely due to disagreements over common fisheries policies -- the island formally withdrew in 1985.
However, public sentiment has since shifted. A recent survey conducted for The Copenhagen Post found that 65% of Greenlanders now believe closer cooperation with the EU would benefit the territory, while only 5% favor strengthening ties with the United States.
Hoyem noted that Greenland’s current coalition government is made up of parties that want to remain closely linked to Denmark, with relations between Nuuk and Copenhagen now tighter than they have been in years.
"The whole situation in Greenland has changed," he said, adding that the idea of returning to the EU is becoming more appealing to Greenlanders. "I guess that they will again be much more positive toward the European Union than they have been before."
Alliances now matter more
According to Hoyem, rejoining the EU would enhance Greenland's security by aligning it with a broader network of nations at a time of rising geopolitical risks.
"Greenland has only 56,000 inhabitants on an island, which is six times bigger than Germany, as big as nearly the whole of Europe," he said. "That means it is important to have a possibility for these few people on this very big island to have help from other nations, and that’s what they try to have now."
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has described the situation as one of Denmark's most serious foreign policy challenges since World War II.
"Unfortunately, I still believe the American president's desire to take over Greenland remains intact, and therefore this situation is serious," Frederiksen said on Thursday. She noted that Denmark's strong European alliances have so far helped navigate the crisis.
Hoyem, a veteran politician, suggested that Greenland’s potential return to the EU could itself put pressure on Trump to drop his “absurd” and “provocative” demands.
"I think that would be a very important element," he said. "Now Greenland is part of Denmark, yes, but not a part of the European Union. We have 27 member states in the European Union, and I think that if Greenland would be a member again, then I'm nearly sure that the debate with America would be over."
Heightened threats change calculus
Concerns have intensified in recent months over US military intervention in Venezuela, the US-Israel war with Iran, and growing strains between Washington and its traditional European allies.
While Hoyem described the developments as alarming, he said he doubts the US would use force against Greenland as long as European allies continue to show strong solidarity with Denmark and the territory.
“It was the first time a NATO member state has threatened another member state,” he said, referring to President Trump’s statements earlier this year. “That’s why so many countries reacted so strongly.”
He noted that Germany, France, Italy, and the UK recently sent troops to the territory -- a move he described as a "clear signal of unity" among European allies.
The veteran politician also pointed to mounting domestic pressure on Trump, saying neither American voters nor Congress fully backs him any longer. He expressed hope that the crisis would shift from public confrontations to quiet diplomacy.
“I hope we’re going the right way now,” Hoyem said, citing recent talks facilitated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. “I think we will slowly return to normal diplomatic discussions instead of debates in front of the cameras.”