Germany and France have warned Donald Trump not to threaten Greenland, after the newly elected U.S. President refused to rule out using military force to seize this autonomous territory of Denmark.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated, “The principle of inviolability of borders applies to every country, whether it is very small or very powerful,” as reported by BBC.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barot also commented, saying, “There is obviously no doubt that the European Union would not allow other nations to attack its sovereign borders.”
Trump reiterated his desire to take control of Greenland, calling the Arctic island “critical” to U.S. national and economic security. He has expressed interest in purchasing Greenland since 2019, during his first presidential term.
Denmark, a long-standing U.S. ally, has firmly stated that Greenland is not for sale and belongs to its inhabitants.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede has advocated for independence from Denmark but has also made it clear that the territory is not for sale. He visited Copenhagen on Wednesday.
Chancellor Scholz pointed out that there is some “misunderstanding” regarding statements from the incoming U.S. administration. “The principle of inviolability of borders applies to every country, whether east or west,” he said.
Denmark is a NATO member, as are Germany and France.
Scholz emphasized, “NATO is the most important instrument for our defense and a central place in transatlantic relations.”
New French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Baro commented Wednesday on France Inter radio: “If you ask me whether I think the United States will attack Greenland, my answer is no. Are we entering an era where the survival of the fittest returns? Then the answer is yes. Should we let ourselves be intimidated and consumed by concern? Clearly not. We must wake up and build strength.”
Germany and France are the two leading EU members, often described as the driving forces behind the union, according to BBC.
However, it is difficult to envision how the EU could prevent any potential attack, given that it lacks its own defense capabilities, and most of its 27 member states are part of NATO.
Trump reiterated his desire at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, less than two weeks before taking the oath of office for his second presidential term.
Asked if he would rule out using military or economic force to seize Greenland or the Panama Canal, Trump replied, “No, I cannot rule out either. But I can say this, we need them for economic security.”
Greenland, home to a U.S. radar base since the Cold War, has long been strategically important to Washington. Trump suggested that the island is crucial for U.S. military efforts to track Chinese and Russian ships, which he claimed are “everywhere.”
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday in an interview with Danish television that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” and only the local population can determine its future.
However, she emphasized that Denmark needs close cooperation with the U.S.
Greenland’s Member of Parliament Kuno Fenker told BBC that the population was preparing for “bold statements” from Trump but made it clear that “sovereignty and self-determination of the island are not negotiable.”
Fenker, whose party is part of Greenland’s governing coalition, said local authorities would welcome “constructive dialogue and mutually beneficial partnership with the United States and other nations,” but emphasized that “this is a decision that the people of Greenland must make, not a politician.”
Greenland, with just 57,000 inhabitants, enjoys wide autonomy, although its economy heavily depends on subsidies from Copenhagen and remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
It also has some of the largest deposits of rare minerals, which are key to the production of batteries and high-tech devices.
Steffen Krec, a senior international correspondent for Danish Radio, reported from Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, saying that most people he spoke to were “shocked” by Trump’s refusal to rule out using military force to seize control of the territory.
While most Greenlanders hope for independence in the future, they are also aware they need a partner to provide public services, defense, and economic support, as Denmark currently does.
“I’ve yet to meet anyone in Greenland who dreams of the island becoming a colony of another foreign power like the U.S.,” Krec said.
Krec added that while the Danish government has attempted to “downplay the significance” of any conflict with Trump, “behind the scenes, there is a sense that this conflict could become the biggest international crisis for Denmark in modern history.”
Donald Trump Jr., the son of the newly elected president, visited Greenland on Tuesday, calling it a “personal day trip” to talk to the people.
He later posted a photo with a group of Greenlanders in a bar wearing Trump hats.
