Danish Prime Minister: US attack on Greenland would mean the end of NATO.
In a statement to the Guardian, Frederiksen criticized Trump’s “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland to take over the self-governing island, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and warned that any US attack on a NATO ally would be “the end of everything.”
She said a US attack on a NATO ally would mean the end of the military alliance and “post-World War II security.”
The US president said on Sunday that the US desperately needs Greenland.
The Guardian notes that Greenland’s strategic location between Europe and North America makes it a key location for US ballistic missile defence systems. The island’s significant mineral resources also align with Washington’s ambitions to reduce its dependence on Chinese exports.
Frederiksen’s comments come after Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Fredrik Nielsen issued a statement urging Trump to “stop fantasizing about annexing the island,” accusing Washington of “completely unacceptable” rhetoric, saying, “Enough is enough.”
She also tried to allay fears of a sudden US takeover of the territory, telling a news conference: “We are not in a position to think that a takeover could happen overnight. You cannot compare Greenland to Venezuela. We are a democratic country.”
She then stressed that her government would do everything necessary to prevent an invasion of Greenland.
“I have said from the beginning that, unfortunately, I believe the US president is serious about this. But I have also made Denmark’s position very clear, and Greenland has said many times that it does not want to be part of the United States.”
The European Union, while supporting the positions of the Danish and Greenlandic prime ministers, said it would not stop defending the principle of territorial integrity, especially when it comes to one of the 27-member bloc’s members.
The Guardian notes that pressure is mounting on Frederiksen, with elections due later this year, to go beyond diplomacy and present more concrete plans for how the Copenhagen government would respond if Greenland were attacked.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he would address the issue “in 20 days” when asked if he would take action on Greenland soon, before mocking Denmark’s defense efforts.
“Right now, Greenland is full of Chinese and Russian ships. We need Greenland for national security reasons. Denmark is not able to do that,” he added.