Germany and France have delivered a sharp rebuke to incoming U.S. President Donald Trump over his controversial ambition to acquire Greenland.
Trump, who has repeatedly expressed interest in the Danish-administered Arctic island, reportedly sees it as “critical for national and economic security.”
The idea, first floated during his presidency in 2019, has resurfaced ahead of his inauguration.
Despite Greenland’s ongoing push for independence from Denmark, the territory has firmly reiterated that it is “not for sale.”
Denmark, a steadfast U.S. ally, has also made its stance unequivocally clear, emphasizing that Greenland belongs to its inhabitants and is not up for negotiation.
Trump, however, has hinted at employing “economic tariffs or military might” to assert control over the island.
This brazen stance has provoked strong reactions across Europe.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a statement on the 8th of January, 2025, expressed dismay, saying Trump’s remarks have “sparked incomprehension among European leaders.”
Scholz underscored that “the principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country regardless of whether it is east of us or to the west—and every state must respect that, regardless of whether it is a small country or a very powerful state.”
Similarly, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot declared that Europe would defend international law with resolve.
“There is no question of the EU letting other nations in the world, whoever they may be, attack its sovereign borders,” Barrot asserted.
As a member of the U.S.-led NATO alliance alongside Germany and France, Denmark finds itself at the center of this geopolitical storm.
The renewed U.S. interest in Greenland, especially as Trump prepares to take office, has exposed growing tensions within NATO.
These rifts emerge against the backdrop of escalating global power struggles, with Russia and China actively working to tilt the balance in their favor.