The European Union began to articulate to prevent a possible attempt by US President Donald Trump from attaching Greenland. Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen began a tour of European capitals in search of political and military support, while countries such as France and Germany have publicly expressed their opposition to statements by the American right leader.

Since his inauguration for the second term, Trump has once again expressed interest in Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, and did not rule out the possibility of using military or economic means to ensure his control. During a Mar-a-Lago news conference, he said the United States “need Greenland for international security” and suggested that the territory would be crucial to tracking Chinese and Russian ships in the Arctic.

According to the English newspaper Financial Times, in a telephone connection to the Danish prime minister, Trump said he was “determined to take Greenland.” The premie replied that the island in the Arctic “is not for sale”, despite the “great interest” of the US. The White House did not confirm the existence of the call.

The statements were received with concern by the European allies. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that “the principle of inviolability of borders applies to all countries, regardless of their size or power.”

France Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, stressed that “the European Union will not allow other nations of the world to attack its sovereign borders.”

European reaction and Frederiksen’s diplomatic turnover

Faced with Trump’s threats, Denmark’s Prime Minister began a series of meetings with European leaders. In Berlin, Olaf Scholz reaffirmed his support for the Danish government, while in Paris, Frederiksen secured the back of French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Danish leader also met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels, highlighting the importance of the alliance for the defense of Greenland.

In addition to diplomatic support, Denmark announced an investment of 2 billion euros to reinforce its military presence in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, including the sending of ships and surveillance drones. The goal is to increase monitoring and response capacity in the region, especially in the face of US movements.

France is considering sending troops, but Denmark discards military option

In an interview with Radio Sud Radio, French chancellor Jean-NOël Barrot revealed that Paris even discussed with Copenhagen the possibility of sending troops to Greenland if Denmark requested help to protect the territory. However, Frederiksen ruled out the option, emphasizing that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy.

“If Denmark asks for help, France will be present,” Barrot said. The French minister also mentioned that the issue was debated among the European Union’s chancers in Brussels, where countries expressed unanimous support to Danish sovereignty about Greenland.

Greenland population rejects annexation by the US

A recent survey published by the Danish newspaper Berlingske showed that 85% of Greenland’s inhabitants are contrary to any annexation in the United States. Only 6% were favorable to the idea, while 9% said they were undecided.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede stressed that any decision on the future of the territory is up to the Greenlanders. Despite defending greater autonomy compared to Denmark, he ruled out any possibility of submitting to Washington.

The risk of an unprecedented diplomatic crisis

The tension between Denmark and the United States can become one of the largest diplomatic crises in recent Scandinavian history. Experts point out that while unlikely, a climb of the situation could impact NATO and the relationship between Washington and its European allies.

Behind the scenes, European strategy has been to avoid direct responses to Trump’s provocations, maintaining a moderate tone to prevent even greater deterioration of transatlantic relations. However, Trump’s growing militarization and insistence on gaining Greenland indicates that the dispute may continue in the coming months.

Source: vermelho.org.br



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