Why Denmark and Greenland Are Urging a Meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Tensions Rise Over Greenland's Sovereignty
Copenhagen: Denmark and Greenland are actively seeking a discussion with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio following the Trump administration's renewed interest in acquiring the strategically significant Arctic territory of Greenland.
The situation intensified after the White House indicated that military options were on the table, despite European leaders firmly rejecting President Trump's proposals for the US to take control of Greenland for strategic purposes.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen cautioned that such a takeover would jeopardize the NATO alliance.
Maria Martisiute, a defense analyst at the European Policy Centre, remarked that the Nordics do not make such serious statements lightly, highlighting the gravity of Trump's aggressive rhetoric.
Leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK joined Frederiksen in affirming that Greenland rightfully belongs to its inhabitants, emphasizing its status as a self-governing territory of Denmark and a NATO member.
Trump has long expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, suggesting that controlling the world's largest island is crucial for US security amid rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic region.
Recent US military actions in Venezuela have raised concerns across Europe, and Trump has reiterated his desire to secure Greenland, which plays a vital role in Arctic and North Atlantic security.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland's Vivian Motzfeldt have requested a meeting with Rubio soon, as previous attempts to engage were unsuccessful.
While many Republicans back Trump's stance, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis criticized his comments, asserting that the US must respect Denmark's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated he spoke with Rubio, who dismissed any notion of a Venezuela-like operation in Greenland, emphasizing the importance of NATO unity.
When asked about potential plans if Trump were to claim Greenland, Barrot declined to engage in hypothetical scenarios.