European leaders expressed concern over Donald Trump's statements regarding potential military action to acquire Greenland, emphasizing the importance of respecting sovereign borders.
European leaders on Wednesday warned Donald Trump against threatening 'sovereign borders' after the United States president-elect refused to rule out military action to take Greenland .Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Trump's comments had sparked 'notable incomprehension' among European Union leaders he had spoken with.Trump has designs on the mineral- and oil-rich Arctic island, an autonomous territory of EU member Denmark that itself has eyes on independence.
He set off new alarm bells on Tuesday at a news conference when he refused to rule out military intervention over the Panama Canal and Greenland, both of which he has said he wants the US to control.'We need Greenland for national security purposes,' he declared.In the German capital Berlin, Scholz convened a press conference at short notice and stressed that the 'inviolability of borders is a fundamental principle of international law.'In a later tweet in English, Scholz reiterated Berlin's position that 'borders must not be moved by force' and that Trump's latest outburst had caused 'uneasiness' among European governments.Referring indirectly to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Scholz said the principle of sovereign borders 'applies to every country, whether in the East or the West.'Donald Trump Jr. made a whistlestop visit to Greenland's capital Nuuk on Tuesday, insisting he was only making a daylong trip as a 'tourist,' and he was not there to 'buy' the territory.Denmark itself struck a more emollient tone, even as Trump threatened to slap high tariffs on Copenhagen if it refused to cede Greenland.Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the Danish Realm — which includes Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands — is 'open to a dialogue with the Americans on how we can cooperate, possibly even more closely than we already do, to ensure that American ambitions are fulfilled.''European territory'French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Greenland was 'European territory,' and there was 'no question of the EU letting other nations in the world, whoever they may be... attack its sovereign borders.'In Brussels, the EU attempted to avoid being drawn into a war of words, with one spokesman dismissing Trump's territorial claim as 'wild hypothetical stuff.'Greenland has been autonomous since 1979 and has its own flag, language and institutions. But justice, monetary, defense and foreign affairs all remain under Danish control.Another EU spokesman confirmed that Greenland was covered by a mutual defense clause binding EU members to assist one another in case of attack.'But we are indeed speaking of something extremely theoretical on which we will not want to elaborate,' European Commission spokesman Paula Pinho told reporters.Barrot ruled out the possibility of a US invasion of Greenland, but told France Inter radio: 'We have entered an era that is seeing the return of the law of the strongest.''Should we be intimidated? Should we be overcome with worry? Evidently, no,' Barrot said.'We need to wake up and reinforce ourselves, militarily, in competition, in a world where the law of the strongest prevails,' he added
Politics DONALD TRUMP GREENLAND INTERNATIONAL LAW SOVEREIGN BORDERS EUROPEAN UNION
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Greenland 'Not for Sale', Says Prime Minister in Response to Trump's CommentsGreenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede stated that the island is not for sale in response to comments made by US President-elect Donald Trump regarding the 'ownership and control' of Greenland. Trump, on Sunday, expressed the US's belief that controlling Greenland is 'an absolute necessity' for national security and global freedom. Trump's statement comes after a previous attempt in 2019 to purchase Greenland which was rejected by both Denmark and Greenland's authorities.
Read more »
Trump's Greenland Ambitions Spark Alarm in EuropeUS President-elect Donald Trump's interest in Greenland has raised concerns in Europe, particularly after he refused to rule out military intervention to gain control of the Danish territory. While Trump has cited national security and freedom as reasons for wanting to annex Greenland, his rhetoric has sparked astonishment and alarm. Denmark, Greenland's governing authority, remains open to dialogue with the US to address security concerns, but insists on Greenland's autonomy.
Read more »
Trump Eyes Greenland, Sparking International ConcernsUS President-elect Donald Trump's statement about potentially taking control of Greenland has raised alarms globally. While Trump insists on exploring options, including military and economic measures, European nations, including France and Germany, have voiced their opposition to any forcible annexation.
Read more »
Trump's son to visit Greenland, amid father's interestCOPENHAGEN, Denmark — Donald Trump confirmed Monday that his eldest son Don Jr plans to visit Greenland, two weeks after the US president-elect suggested that Washington annex the autonomous Danish territory.
Read more »
Trump Suggests Buying Greenland From DenmarkPresident-elect Donald Trump has suggested that the U.S. could buy Greenland from Denmark, sparking controversy and raising eyebrows.
Read more »
EV Sales Surge in Fourth Quarter as Trump Threat Propels BuyersPresident-elect Donald Trump's threat to end tax credits for electric vehicles spurred a fourth-quarter sales surge, boosting US automakers after a challenging year. Sales of EVs more than doubled at General Motors and jumped 16 percent at Ford. Overall EV sales climbed 12 percent, reaching a record 1.3 million for the year. The increased demand for EVs helped lift total car sales, with the annualized rate for 2024 rising to 15.9 million vehicles. However, this surge is expected to be temporary as potential policy changes under Trump's presidency may make EVs more expensive.
Read more »