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Topics: World News, Politics, News, Donald Trump, US News
Rhianna Benson
Topics: World News, Politics, News, Donald Trump, US News
A group of politicians has rallied together in response to Donald Trump's plans to 'take over' Greenland.
The American leader has repeatedly expressed his hopes of attaining the self-governing territory since returning to the White House for a second term last January, insisting it falls within his broader bid for increased 'national security'.
Trump also believes Greenland's location will prove strategic for defence purposes and provide mineral wealth to the US.
In March, the 79-year-old even sent Vice President JD Vance overseas to inspect a naval base there, later claiming he wouldn't rule out using force to take control of the area.
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A month after appointing Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland - which is technically situated within the Kingdom of Denmark, though it is an autonomous territory - Trump this week insisted he's entirely 'serious' about his mission.
"I think that Greenland is very important for the national security of the United States, Europe, and other parts of the free world," the President claimed, adding that he has 'no timeline' for the whole fiasco.
Unsurprisingly, Trump's admission has sparked outrage amongst a number of world leaders, including Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen, who slammed the US' potential takeover as 'fantasy'.
"When the president of the United States talks about ‘we need Greenland’ and connects us with Venezuela and military intervention, it’s not just wrong," he hit out. "This is so disrespectful."
Nielsen continued: "Our country is not an object of superpower rhetoric. We are a people. A land. And democracy. This has to be respected. Especially by close and loyal friends."
His close acquaintance, Danish PM, Mette Frederiksen, also agreed with his sentiments.
"If the United States chooses to attack another Nato country militarily, then everything stops," Frederiksen told state broadcaster TV2 on Monday (5 January), adding: "That is, including our Nato and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War."
The Greenland and Danish locals aren't the only politicians to have expressed their horror in response to Trump's latest comments.
A joint statement condemning the president's mission was released on Tuesday (6 January), signed by the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Denmark.
"Greenland belongs to its people," it read. "It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.
"Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and it is critical for international and transatlantic security."
The statement continued: "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. Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively, in conjunction with Nato allies, including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders."
The message concluded: "These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them.
"The United States is an essential partner in this endeavour, as a Nato ally and through the defence agreement between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States of 1951."
Yesterday, Nielsen said that they weren't concerned about an 'overnight' takeover following Trump's capture of Venezuelan Prime Minister, Nicolãs Maduro, as he said: "We are not in the situation where we are thinking that a takeover of the country might happen overnight.
"You cannot compare Greenland to Venezuela. We are a democratic country."