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By Brendan Cole and Shane Croucher
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European NATO leaders have issued a joint statement that "Greenland belongs to its people" and it is for the Arctic island and Denmark only to decide on its future, after President Donald Trump's administration reiterated its wish to take control of it.
The statement said that NATO and its allies had increased its activities and investment to make the Arctic a safe place and that Denmark and Greenland were part of that alliance.
The statement was signed by the leaders of eight countries, including Denmark.
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Newsweek has contacted the White House via email for comment.
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Why It Matters
Greenland is an autonomous island which is part of Denmark; since he reentered the White House, Trump has repeatedly said that it should become part of the U.S. After he ordered attacks on Venezuela, and the capture of its leader, Nicolás Maduro, Trump has reiterated his wish for Greenland, prompting the statement from European leaders which will be seen as a strong rebuke to the U.S. president's rhetoric.
What To Know
On Tuesday, a statement about Greenland was issued and signed President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
It said that security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively with NATO allies, including the United States, by upholding the principles of the U.N. Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.
"These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them," said the statement which followed Trump's latest comments about Greenland. He has not ruled out using force to achieve this aim.
It said that the U.S. was an essential partner in this aim, both as a NATO ally and through the defense agreement between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States of 1951.
The statement appears to counter Trump's comments on Sunday that the U.S. taking Greenland' would benefit the EU. Denmark’s Frederiksen said if the United States attacked another NATO country militarily, "then everything stops,” including the alliance that has ensured security since the end of World War II.
In an interview with CNN on Monday, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller questioned Denmark's claim over the territory, but did not clarify whether the U.S. would use force to achieve its aims.
What People Are Saying
European Leaders said in a statement: "NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European allies are stepping up. We and many other allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries. The Kingdom of Denmark—including Greenland—is part of NATO," the statement said.
It added: "Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland."
What Happens Next
As of Tuesday morning, the White House had not responded to the European leaders' statement, but it could raise diplomatic tensions between Washington and NATO at a sensitive time when the alliance is trying to keep Trump onside, amid security concerns in Europe caused by Russia's war on Ukraine.
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