COPENHAGEN/WASHINGTON: The Greenland government has squashed any possibility of the United States taking over the running of the island, pushing back forcibly against the suggestion by U.S. President Donald Trump that America would take over the island “one way or another.”
In his statement issued on the following Monday, the Greenlandic authorities stressed that the territory, which is self-ruling inside the Kingdom of Denmark, would by no means accept the rule of the US. “Greenland is a sovereign and democratic nation with the right to make and implement decisions according to the principles of international law,” the government stated.
Trump previously stated that Greenland is an imperative location for the national and international security of the United States. He proposed that in the instance the U.S. fails to establish its presence in Greenland, other nations, including Russia and/or China, possibly would.
Donald Trump previously stated that Greenland is an imperative location for the national and international security of the United States of America. He proposed that in the instance the U.S. fails to establish its presence in Greenland, other nations,
“The Greenlandic government made clear that the country remains an integral part of Danish territory, and the defense of this territory, being a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, should be regulated within the framework of the organization,” explained the ambassador. “All members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including the United States, have an interest in the security of Greenland,” the ambassador quoted the Greenlandic government’s position.
Last week, a joint statement came from a number of European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, as well as the United Kingdom, pledging their support for the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland. The EU’s Defence Commissioner warned that any military operation by the US to seize Greenland could precipitate a crisis within NATO.
Greenland has been under Danish rule since the 18th century, but Home Rule was achieved in 1979. Greenland’s politics have tended towards independence since then, and there is no support for American acquisition by Greenland’s citizens. A recent poll indicates that Greenland’s citizens vehemently reject American control.
Experts state that the situation has the potential to cause difficulties in NATO’s unity because NATO relies upon the support of its individual members for mutual protection. The Arctc location and rich resources of Greenland have attracted the attention of big powers like the U.S., Russia, and China.
Witnesses notice that the statements by Trump, possibly aimed at emphasizing the priorities set by Washington, have been met with wide-scale backlash across Greenland, as well as Europe. This incident not only reflects the complex nature of geopolitics at the Arctic level but also the sensitivity of issues pertaining to sovereignty at the international level, not to mention within NATO.
However, with tensions also prevailing in the area, Greenland and Denmark have emphasized that any security decisions must comply with international law and that the commitment to security agreements has remained strong.
