European leaders have condemned Donald Trump’s latest remarks about acquiring Greenland. European leaders have rallied behind Denmark after US President Donald Trump again floated the idea of acquiring Greenland and called the Arctic territory critical to US defence. “We do need Greenland defence and, absolutely,” Trump said in an interview with The Atlantic on Sunday.
His comments came after American military action in Venezuela, heightening concerns in Europe that Greenland could be the next target of US intervention. The remarks drew swift condemnation from Greenland and Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the United States has no right to annex Greenland and urged Washington to stop making threats against a close ally.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called the US rhetoric “completely and utterly unacceptable.” Nordic leaders were among the first to respond. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told public broadcaster NRK that “One must respect countries’ sovereignty.” Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson both stressed that decisions about Greenland rest solely with Denmark and Greenland, voicing their full support for their neighbour. On Monday, Frederiksen escalated her warning, telling Danish broadcaster TV2 that a US takeover of Greenland would effectively end the NATO military alliance. “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” she said, referring to the collective security framework established after the Second World War.
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