The European Union (EU) has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments about annexing Greenland as “highly hypothetical” while reaffirming its commitment to state sovereignty.
“This is, fortunately, a very hypothetical issue,” said Paula Pinho, spokesperson for the European Commission (EC), during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Less than two weeks before his second presidential inauguration, Trump reiterated his ambitions to annex Greenland, even suggesting that military force could be an option.
“This is an extremely hypothetical matter that we do not wish to dwell upon,” Pinho added, emphasizing that the EU remains steadfast in defending its member states’ sovereignty.
She further highlighted that Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty, which establishes a mutual defense clause among EU member states, also applies to Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot echoed the EU’s stance, stating, “There is no question of the EU allowing any country to infringe upon its sovereign borders.”
Similarly, the German government issued a statement affirming, “Borders cannot and must not be changed by force.”
Trump had previously remarked that Greenland and the Panama Canal are of “critical importance to U.S. economic security” and indicated that military action could be considered to establish control over these territories.
The provocative remarks have sparked international backlash, with European leaders emphasizing the importance of maintaining global stability and respecting territorial integrity.
