US — Ars Technica
As US ties fray, Europe plans first undersea cable link to Greenland
Policy1 min read
The European Union plans to build its first undersea Internet cable straight to Greenland. The link could later reach Canada, Japan and South Korea, and it would bypass the United States.
What happened
The European Union (EU) wants to build the Pan-Arctic Cable. This is a data cable that runs under the sea. It would link Europe directly to Greenland. It could later reach Canada, then Japan and South Korea. The EU named it a flagship project, which means a top-priority plan. The news came in a European Commission policy paper dated October 20, 2026.
Key facts
- The policy paper backs a "sovereign, secure and resilient" cable linking Greenland directly to the EU.
- More than 90 percent of Europe-Asia communications run through undersea cables in the Red Sea, according to TeleGeography.
- A trilateral security deal between the US, Greenland and Denmark was reached in September 2026.
Why Greenland matters
Greenland is a large island in the Arctic. It is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but has its own self-rule. In September 2026, the United States, Greenland and Denmark signed a security deal. It gives the US more military access, and Greenland keeps its self-rule status. Relations between the US and its European and Canadian allies have become tense, after trade fights and a more pro-Russia stance on the war in Ukraine.
Why it matters
The cable would give Europe a route to the Internet that does not pass through the United States. It also avoids the Red Sea, where attacks on ships make cables riskier to maintain. Elisabeth Braw of the Atlantic Council said that a few years ago this project would not have looked commercially attractive. Now it fits the mood of the times, when countries want more control over their own data links.
What to watch
- Whether the EU turns the plan into a funded, built project.
- Whether Canada joins as a partner and a stepping stone toward Asia.
- How the Red Sea conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi forces changes cable routes.
Glossary
- Pan-Arctic Cable
- A planned undersea Internet cable linking Europe, Greenland, and possibly Canada and Asia.
- European Commission
- The executive arm of the EU that proposes laws and policy plans.
- TeleGeography
- A research firm that tracks telecom and Internet networks around the world.
- Atlantic Council
- A US think tank that studies foreign policy and security issues.
- Houthi
- An armed group in Yemen that has attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea area.