More than a century ago, Greenland was already at the center of international strategic interests. The Lansing Declaration of August 4, 1916, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Robert Lansing, marked a key moment in recognizing Danish sovereignty over the island while laying the foundations for long-term American involvement in the Arctic. Understanding this historical agreement helps explain why Greenland remains geopolitically relevant today.

Greenland 🇬🇱 is no longer a remote Arctic outpost. For the European Union 🇪🇺, the island has become a strategic crossroads where security 🛡️, climate change ❄️, natural resources 💎 and global geopolitics 🌐 intersect. From Danish sovereignty 🇩🇰 and NATO dynamics to U.S. influence 🇺🇸 and scientific cooperation, this article explores five key geopolitical factors that explain why Greenland plays a growing role in Europe’s strategic future—and why what happens in the Arctic increasingly affects everyday life far beyond the polar circle.