The message of the American leader, Donald Trump, announcing his intentions to unilaterally annex Greenlanda territory that belongs to Denmark, has put the main European countries into action. Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Poland and Denmark have issued a statement in which they defend Danish sovereignty of the Arctic island and the inviolability of its borders. A statement that the Netherlands has also supported.
The context could not be more turbulent, considering the latest military operation that the Republican leader has exhibited in Venezuela after capturing Nicolás Maduro. The leaders of the major European capitals have not been slow to act. The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, together with the French President, Emmanuel Macron; the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz; The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer and the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, have issued a statement in which They reject any decision that does not come from the Greenlandic people and Denmark.
The large European states assure that the “security of the Arctic is a priority for Europe and for international and transatlantic security.” In their statement they defend the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland in matters relating to the territory and highlight that the Danish territory, including Greenland, is part of NATO“.
“Security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively, in collaboration with NATO allies, including the United States, respecting the principles of the Charter of the United Nationsincluding sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders,” European leaders recall.
“NATO has made it clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European allies are stepping up their presence. We and many other allies have increased our presence, our activities and our investments to keep the Arctic safe and to deter enemies. “The Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland, is part of NATO,” the statement added.
The European Commission has also taken a position; although it is not included in the joint statement, it aligns its message with the eight European powers. At the daily press conference, community spokesperson Anitta Hipper pointed out that “the EU will continue to defend the principles of national sovereigntyterritorial integrity and the inviolability of borders”.
The latest actions of the tenant of the White House have the world in suspense. The European leaders come out in defense of international law and territorial sovereignty at a particularly tense moment after the US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a military operation.
The pressure increases considering that This is not the first time that the US government has openly shown its intentions to annex Greenland.with an eye on a territory rich in natural resources. The American leader also launched this threat against other Latin American countries, such as Cuba, Colombia or Mexico and called for talks about the Arctic island within a period of 20 days.
A little later he added: “we need Greenland from a national security point of view. It is very strategic.” In a further step, the Republican assured that Denmark would not be able to guarantee the security of Greenland and that the EU needs the US to have that security.
The reply comes hours after statements by Turmp’s chief of staff and security adviser, Stephen Miller, in an interview on CNN. “By what right does Denmark assert its control over Greenland? What is the basis of its territorial claim? What is the basis for Greenland being a colony of Denmark?” he asked. “The US is NATO’s power. For the US to guarantee the security of the Arctic region and protect the Alliance and its interests, it is evident that Greenland should integrate into the US“, he stated.
The Danish Prime Minister was quick to react. His first warning was to take Trump’s intentions “seriously.” He assured that If the annexation is carried out, it would be the end of NATO. “I will also make it clear that if the US decides to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything will stop, including NATO and therefore the security that has been established since the end of World War II,” Frederiksen added.
In a message on the social network Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States is a “non-negotiable principle”. He added that “from Ukraine to Gaza, passing through Venezuela. Spain will always be in active commitment to the United Nations and in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.”