Trump’s Greenland Threat Sparks United Pushback From Europe
Seven European allies back Denmark as Trump pushes Greenland annexation, warning it risks NATO unity and Arctic security under international law.
After the US reiterated its desire to control Greenland, six European allies have come out in support of Denmark.
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark said in a joint statement, "Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relationship."
On Sunday, Donald Trump said the US "needs" Greenland – a semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark – for security reasons.
He has not ruled out the possibility of using force to gain control of the territory, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday that a US attack would lead to the end of NATO.
NATO is a transatlantic military alliance where member states are expected to come to each other's aid in the event of an external attack.
The issue of Greenland's future resurfaced after a US military intervention in Venezuela, during which elite troops attempted to capture the country's president, Nicolás Maduro, and bring him to New York to face drug and weapons charges.
Following the raid, Trump said the US would "run" Venezuela for a period of time.
He also stated that the US was returning to its 1823 policy of American dominance in its sphere of influence in the Western Hemisphere – and warned several countries that the US might be watching them.
The US military raid in Venezuela has revived fears that the US might consider using force to gain control of Greenland.
The day after the raid, Katie Miller – the wife of a senior Trump aide – posted a map of Greenland in the colors of the American flag on social media with the word "SOON."
On Monday, her husband, Stephen Miller, said it was the "formal position of the US government that Greenland should be part of the United States." In an interview, he also said that the US is "the power of NATO. For the US to secure the Arctic region, to protect and defend NATO and NATO interests, obviously Greenland should be part of the United States."
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When repeatedly asked whether the US would rule out the possibility of using force to annex it, Miller replied: "No one is going to fight the United States over the future of Greenland." The seven European countries that signed Tuesday's joint statement emphasized that they are just as concerned about Arctic security as the US, and that this work should be done "together" by NATO allies, including the US – while also "respecting the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders."
Trump has claimed that making Greenland part of the US would benefit American security interests due to its strategic location and abundance of minerals crucial for the high-tech sector.
The Trump administration's recent move to appoint a special envoy for Greenland has sparked anger in Denmark.
Greenland, with a population of 57,000, has had extensive self-governance since 1979, although defense and foreign policy remain in the hands of Denmark.
While most Greenlanders ultimately want independence from Denmark, opinion polls show they are overwhelmingly opposed to becoming part of the United States.
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