EU backs direct Greenland internet cable to diversify Europe’s Arctic links

The European Union plans to build the first subsea internet cable directly linking Europe and Greenland, with a possible extension through Canada to Japan and South Korea. The route would bypass the United States and could give Europe more secure, diverse connections as relations with some allies have become strained and existing routes face greater risks.

The project received EU backing in an Arctic strategy published on 20 October 2026, following an agreement to develop it signed by European organisations and a Greenlandic telecoms operator in 2025. The EU has invested $119 million (€107 million) to improve Greenland’s secure connectivity. Extending the cable across the Arctic would be technically demanding and require more European icebreakers; meanwhile, more than 90 per cent of Europe–Asia communications currently pass through undersea cables in the Red Sea.