Germany and France have joined forces to warn Donald Trump against threatening the European Union’s “sovereign borders” after the president-elect refused to rule out military action to take control of Greenland. Trump has ramped up calls for the US to either purchase or stage a takeover of the “strategically located” nation, which is an autonomous territory of EU member Denmark.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, “The principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country, no matter whether it’s a very small one or a very powerful one.” He added that there was a “certain incomprehension” about statements coming from the incoming US administration. Scholz stressed that NATO is the most important instrument for their defence and a central part of the transatlantic relationship.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told the France Inter radio station, “There is no question of the EU letting other nations in the world, whoever they may be, attack its sovereign borders.” He added that while he did not believe the US “would invade” Greenland, “we have entered an era that is seeing the return of the law of the strongest.”
Trump has questioned whether Denmark has any legal right or “interest” to Greenland, stating, “People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up, because we need it for national security.” He also said that if Denmark tried to hold onto Greenland, they would face heavy economic tariffs.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and has been part of it for 600 years. The Danish government has control of Greenland’s foreign and economic policy, but the territory left the EU in 1985 following a referendum. The US has a military base in Greenland due to its strategic position as the shortest oceanic crossroads between North America and Europe.
The island also has a large supply of valuable rare earth minerals, including uranium, not found in the US. Trump declined to rule out military or economic action as part of his avowed desire to have the US seize control of Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal. He has also argued for a takeover of Canada.
During a press conference, a reporter asked Trump if he could assure he would not use “military or economic coercion” to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. Trump replied, “I’m not going to commit to that. It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country. We need Greenland for national security purposes.”
Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., made a trip to Greenland to shoot social media content, and the president-elect called into his son’s phone to speak to locals. Trump Jr. took his father’s Trump Force One jet to the country, and the president-elect said that if Denmark tried to hold onto Greenland, they would face heavy economic tariffs.
Denmark, during Trump’s first term, rejected the then-president’s offer to buy the island, a position the country has made clear it will maintain. Greenland, with a population of 57,000, controls most of its own domestic affairs as a semi-sovereign territory under the Danish realm.
Conclusion:
The dispute over Greenland’s sovereignty has sparked concerns about the potential for military conflict and economic tariffs. Germany and France have joined forces to warn Trump against threatening the European Union’s borders, while Denmark has reiterated its position that the territory is not for sale.
FAQs:
* What is the current status of Greenland’s sovereignty?
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and has been part of it for 600 years.
* What is the US’s interest in Greenland?
The US has a military base in Greenland due to its strategic position as the shortest oceanic crossroads between North America and Europe, and the island also has a large supply of valuable rare earth minerals, including uranium, not found in the US.
* Has Denmark rejected the US’s offer to buy Greenland?
Yes, Denmark has rejected the US’s offer to buy Greenland, a position the country has made clear it will maintain.
* What is the population of Greenland?
The population of Greenland is approximately 57,000.
* What is the current relationship between Denmark and Greenland?
Greenland controls most of its own domestic affairs as a semi-sovereign territory under the Danish realm, but tensions have arisen over allegations of historic mistreatment of Greenlanders under colonial rule.
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