European leaders urge U.S. to respect Greenland’s sovereignty amid Trump threats

European leaders issued a joint appeal on Tuesday urging the United States to respect Greenland’s sovereignty and the role of NATO as the Trump administration repeatedly threatened to seize the semiautonomous Danish territory. In a statement released with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, leaders of France, Germany, Britain and others emphasized Greenland’s inclusion within NATO and said Arctic security “could be achieved only by upholding principles in the United Nations Charter of ‘sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.’” “Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said.

“It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.” The show of solidarity came as President Trump, described in the statement as emboldened by his capture of Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela, suggested he could take action against other countries and reiterated his desire to seize Greenland.

On Sunday Mr. Trump said on Air Force One, “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security.” Stephen Miller, a Trump aide, told CNN’s Jake Tapper that Greenland rightfully belonged to the United States and said “nobody’s going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland,” adding that the world “is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power.” Denmark has responded with concern and defiance; Ms.

Key Topics

World, Greenland, Denmark, Nato, Donald Trump, Mette Frederiksen