BERLIN, Jan 7 : France is working with allies to respond appropriately in the event of any US military intervention to acquire Greenland, as President Donald Trump has been considering “a range of options,” including potential military involvement.
Trump has emphasised that acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of fellow NATO member Denmark, remains a “national security priority.”
The US military operation in Venezuela has compelled European leaders to decide on a pre-emptive plan and issued a joint message supporting Denmark, which has resisted Trump’s ambitions for the Arctic island.
Over the weekend, Trump reiterated that the US “needed” Greenland for security reasons, prompting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to warn that any American attack could spell the end of NATO.
A joint statement was issued by President Macron of France, Chancellor Merz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Tusk of Poland, Prime Minister S?nchez of Spain, Prime Minister Starmer of the United Kingdom, and Prime Minister Frederiksen of Denmark.
“Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and it is critical for international and transatlantic security,” the statement read.
The leaders added, “NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European Allies are stepping up. We and many other Allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries. The Kingdom of Denmark – including Greenland – is part of NATO.”
They emphasised, “Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them.”
The statement also noted that the United States is a crucial partner in this effort, both as a NATO ally and through the 1951 defense agreement between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States.
It concluded that Greenland belongs to its people and “it is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”
Denmark and its NATO allies responded sharply on Tuesday after Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, asserted that the US has a right to Greenland and did not dismiss the possibility of using military force to obtain it.
Miller, who is considered a key architect of several Trump administration hardline policies, focused on acquiring Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark.
In a CNN interview, Miller said, “The United States should have Greenland as part of the United States,” while avoiding a direct answer on whether the U.S. would deploy military force to take it.
He added, “The real question is, by what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? What is the basis of their territorial claim? What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?”
Miller continued, “The United States is the power of NATO. For the United States to secure the Arctic region to protect and defend NATO and NATO interests, obviously, Greenland should be part of the United States. And so that’s a conversation that we’re going to have, as a country.”
(UNI)
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