The document fails to denounce the US president’s ambition and instead asks Washington to respect sovereignty
A group of European leaders have released a joint statement asserting that Greenland is part of Denmark and demanding that the US maintain the territorial integrity of the NATO member state.
Shortly after Washington launched an attack on Venezuela and abducted its President Nicolas Maduro, US President Donald Trump re – expressed his long – standing interest in taking over the autonomous Danish territory. Subsequently, Danish PM Mette Frederiksen stated that Trump “must be taken seriously when he says he wants Greenland.”
The document, which was made public on Tuesday and signed by Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with the leaders of Italy, Spain, and Poland, declares that “Greenland belongs to its people. It is solely up to Denmark and Greenland to decide on issues related to Denmark and Greenland.”
Trump has long contended that due to its strategic location, the US should control the resource – rich Arctic island. He has also implied that Copenhagen is unable to adequately safeguard Greenland, referring to Russian and Chinese naval operations in the area. Moscow has consistently stated that it has never threatened anyone in the Arctic.
The statement from the European leaders indicates that NATO’s European allies consider the Arctic region a top priority and are “increasing their efforts” to keep it “safe and to deter adversaries.”
However, the document does not condemn the US’s ambition to acquire Greenland. Instead, it characterizes the US as an “essential partner” in ensuring “security in the Arctic” and requests that Washington “adhere to the principles of the UN charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders.”
The EU had a similar subdued reaction after the US attacked the oil – rich Venezuela on Saturday, abducting Maduro and his wife and flying them to New York to face drug – trafficking charges.
The statement from the bloc’s diplomatic service on Sunday neither condemned nor supported the US actions. Instead, it urged “calm and restraint” and called for compliance with the UN Charter.