AhlulBayt News Agency: Trump’s appetite for threat and aggression against foreign countries and territories looks insatiable. Greenland is one of the latest territories subject of the US threat of occupation, to an extent that the US President Donald Trump has recently at a meeting in Washington claimed that seizing Greenland is necessary for the American national security and defense, adding that taking this Danish territory may come peacefully or forcefully.
Trump further said that if Washington does not do so, China and Russia will take this “strategic asset” and “we will not allow this”, adding that “we don’t want Russia as and China be our neighbors.”
These remarks by the US president come as the European Union foreign policy chief has said that the bloc is looking into a response to the US threats against Greenland. Kaja Kallas in recent remarks said that “the European Union has discussed and deliberated on its potential response if the United States follows through on its threat to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous region belonging to Denmark.”
Earlier, Karoline Levit, a spokesperson for the White House, emphasized the importance of Greenland for the US, stating: “The United States needs Greenland to have greater control over the Arctic. All options are always on the table for President Donald Trump, but his first option is always diplomacy.”
“We do not want to be American”
Amid Trump’s threats to acquire Greenland as part of Denmark, political parties in Greenland issued a statement opposing his positions. They announced in a joint statement that “we do not wish to be American.”
The five political parties of Greenland emphasized in their statement the importance of negotiation in response to the remarks made by the US president and expressed their opposition to any coercive actions regarding Greenland’s future. They further stated their desire for dialogue to maintain ongoing alliances with other countries.
Why is Greenland significant?
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953. Following its autonomy gained in 2009, it remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark and has the ability to self-govern and determine its internal policies, yet it is still considered part of Danish territory.
This island is rich in mineral resources and is strategically significant, with a portion of American forces stationed at the Thule Air Base in Greenland. The presence of these troops is essential for Washington to track long-range missiles that might be launched toward US soil.
Although Washington has not explicitly ruled out military options, the US government continues to emphasize the importance of Greenland for the national security of the country.
Possible end of NATO
The US president is threatening Greenland as a Danish territory while both the US and Denmark are two NATO allies. While the NATO members are supposed to protect each other against foreign threats, a question is what is the solution when one NATO member invades another member of the bloc?
In this connection, The Newsweek newspaper writes that “NATO foundation rests on the principle of collective defense, which is highlighted in its treaty. According to this principle, an attack on one member is an attack on all and it is implicitly assumed that the military power of the US will deter any aggressor. Until recently, the idea that the US, as the most influential member of NATO, could take action against another member state was simply unthinkable, with such a scenario likely signaling the end of NATO.
This American newspaper also notes that senior officials in the Trump administration have contributed to this shift in tone. Stephen Miller, Deputy White House Chief of Staff, has stated that the official position of the government is that Greenland should be under US control. According to Newsweek, Miller argued that the US as the leading power in NATO finds controlling Greenland essential for ensuring security in the Arctic region and defending NATO’s interests.
The newspaper adds that the US is undoubtedly the dominant power in the bloc, especially when it comes to the defense spending, the power execution, and nuclear capabilities. Washington has for years spent for military and defense a larger share of its GDP than other NATO members though in June last year they agreed to raise their military spending to 5 percent of their GDP in clear appeasement of the White House.
Europe preparing to face Trump
These days, Europe is also seriously preparing for the potential annexation of Greenland by the Americans. An EU diplomat, who talked to the Politico on the condition of anonymity that the European bloc is calling for readiness to confront Trump directly amid his threats to annex the Arctic island of Greenland.
Politico previously reported that Europe has begun drafting a plan that could include deterrent measures in the event of a US attempt to attack or seize Greenland, as well as increasing NATO’s presence near the island.
“We must be ready for direct confrontation with Trump. He is on the offensive, and we need to be prepared,” the European diplomat was quoted as saying.
Simultaneously, the British newspaper Telegraph reported on discussions between British officials and their European counterparts regarding a military deployment plan in Greenland. The goal of this plan, particularly against China and Russia, is stated to be the protection of the Arctic region and may include the deployment of fighter jets, ships, and military forces.
The EU has clearly warned that if the US does not retract its claims regarding Greenland, it will impose sanctions against American companies. At the same time, reports indicate that the British government, along with its European allies, is in negotiations to send troops to Greenland to enhance the security of the island.
Oppositions inside the US
As the US steps up threats against Greenland, American officials have announced readiness to hold a meeting with Trump to dissuade him from seizing Greenland.
The Daily Mail, citing a diplomatic source, reported that a group of American military generals are against Trump’s implementation of his threat against Greenland. Calling the move “illegal”, the generals are pushing to get Trump’s attention to military operations in other areas. They, the newspaper reported, called the plan by their president “insane.”
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