EU rejects Trump’s overtures on Greenland annexation

The European Union on Wednesday dismissed as “unrealistic fantasy” US President-elect Donald Trump’s refusal to launch a military attack to take control of Denmark’s autonomous region of Greenland, while confirming that the EU would intervene if Trump invaded. The countries will be forced to defend the island. it.

Trump, who is set to be inaugurated for a second, non-consecutive term in the White House on January 20, ruled out military action to take control of the mineral-rich Arctic island at a news conference on Tuesday and vowed to impose higher tariffs earlier . on Denmark if it refused to give up control.

However, the Brussels-based 27-nation bloc, a longtime ally of the US, sought to avoid getting into a verbal spat with Trump, saying it was “looking forward” to working with the incoming administration. Is”.

Regarding Trump’s refusal to rule out military action to annex Greenland, a European Commission spokesperson said, “We’re talking about quite wild hypotheticals about an administration that hasn’t yet Is.”

Another speaker said that the sovereignty of states should be respected “as a matter of principle”.

Asked whether Greenland fell under the mutual defense clause obliging EU members to assist each other in the event of attack, Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho said that was the case.

“But we’re actually talking about something very theoretical that we don’t want to go into detail about,” he said.

Greenland is a mineral-rich autonomous region of Denmark, a member of the European Union, and an associated territory of the European Union.

Trump has long publicly fantasized about annexing Greenland, saying Tuesday, “We need Greenland for national security purposes,” arguing that Denmark needs to “protect the free world.” For it should be abandoned.

In addition to the minerals on the island, it is a strategic Arctic shipping portal, especially as the planet warms causing the ice on top of the world to melt.

Earlier in the day, Trump wrote on social media that a potential US acquisition of Greenland was “a deal that must happen” and uploaded photos of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., visiting Greenland.

“Make Greenland Great Again,” Trump said.

panama and canada

In his press conference, Trump ruled out military action to secure control of the Panama Canal and economic force against neighboring Canada to gain the upper hand in trade deals or annexation of the two countries.

“Canada and the United States, this will really be something,” Trump said. “You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it will be much better for national security as well.”

Trump raised the possibility that Canada should become the 51st US state, a proposal that was quickly rejected by outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Trudeau said, “There is no possibility that Canada will become part of the United States.”

Germany and France

In addition to the EU’s rejection of Trump’s eye on the annexation of Greenland, EU members Germany and France also rejected the suggestion of the US leader visiting in person.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed surprise at Trump’s comments, saying that European partners agree that the inviolability of borders is a fundamental principle of international law.

“This principle applies and is the foundation of our peaceful order,” Scholz told reporters.

“In my discussions with our European partners, a certain lack of understanding has emerged regarding recent statements from the United States,” Scholz said in an unusually blunt statement called at short notice.

“The principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country, whether to our east or west,” Scholz said. He said Russia had violated that principle with its nearly three-year invasion of Ukraine.

“There is no question of the EU allowing other countries in the world, whoever they may be… to attack our sovereign borders,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio. We need to strengthen ourselves.” More.”

Barrot said he did not believe the US would invade the vast Arctic island that has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years.

But he added, “We have entered an era where the rule of law is making a comeback. Should we be frightened? Should we be overcome with concern? Obviously, no,” he said.

“We need to wake up and strengthen ourselves militarily to compete in a world where the strongest rules the law.”

Barrot said that he believes the United States is “not inherently imperialist” and added that he “doesn’t believe” that this is changing.