European leaders have issued a strong joint statement in support of Denmark and its autonomous territory of Greenland, following comments from US President Donald Trump's leading aide that the US may be willing to use force to seize control of the Arctic region.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have declared that Greenland "belongs to its people", reiterating their commitment to collective security in the Arctic. The statement was made jointly with the prime ministers of Denmark, Italy, Poland, and Spain.
In a bid to avoid escalating tensions with the US, European leaders shifted focus to making fresh security commitments to Ukraine during an international summit in Paris. However, Starmer made it clear that the UK government's position on Greenland remains unchanged: "I've been very clear as to what my position, the position of the UK government, is."
The statement reflects growing unease among European leaders about the US's intentions regarding Greenland, which has long been a territory of the kingdom of Denmark. The comments from Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, have raised alarm bells in Denmark and prompted an emergency meeting with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Lord Ricketts, a former UK national security adviser, warned that if the US were to annex Greenland, it would be disastrous for NATO, effectively ending the alliance based on trust. Security relationships between European countries and the US are set to take on greater significance in the wake of this threat.
Meanwhile, Greenland's prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has urged Trump to give up his "fantasies about annexation" and accused the US of using "completely and utterly unacceptable" rhetoric. Greenlanders remain determined to make their own decisions about their territory's future, despite being a former Danish colony.
The US has long had a military base in Greenland, which serves as an important location for its ballistic missile early warning system. In recent years, there has been growing support among Greenlandic people for independence from Denmark, particularly after revelations about the country's treatment of indigenous populations during colonial rule.
In March, Greenland formed a new four-party coalition government, with the first page of the coalition agreement stating: "Greenland belongs to us." The move reflects the territory's desire for greater autonomy and self-determination.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have declared that Greenland "belongs to its people", reiterating their commitment to collective security in the Arctic. The statement was made jointly with the prime ministers of Denmark, Italy, Poland, and Spain.
In a bid to avoid escalating tensions with the US, European leaders shifted focus to making fresh security commitments to Ukraine during an international summit in Paris. However, Starmer made it clear that the UK government's position on Greenland remains unchanged: "I've been very clear as to what my position, the position of the UK government, is."
The statement reflects growing unease among European leaders about the US's intentions regarding Greenland, which has long been a territory of the kingdom of Denmark. The comments from Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, have raised alarm bells in Denmark and prompted an emergency meeting with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Lord Ricketts, a former UK national security adviser, warned that if the US were to annex Greenland, it would be disastrous for NATO, effectively ending the alliance based on trust. Security relationships between European countries and the US are set to take on greater significance in the wake of this threat.
Meanwhile, Greenland's prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has urged Trump to give up his "fantasies about annexation" and accused the US of using "completely and utterly unacceptable" rhetoric. Greenlanders remain determined to make their own decisions about their territory's future, despite being a former Danish colony.
The US has long had a military base in Greenland, which serves as an important location for its ballistic missile early warning system. In recent years, there has been growing support among Greenlandic people for independence from Denmark, particularly after revelations about the country's treatment of indigenous populations during colonial rule.
In March, Greenland formed a new four-party coalition government, with the first page of the coalition agreement stating: "Greenland belongs to us." The move reflects the territory's desire for greater autonomy and self-determination.
. It's fascinating to see how the actions of one person can have such far-reaching consequences... I mean, who would've thought that Trump's comments about annexing Greenland would spark such a strong response from European leaders? It just goes to show that international relations are complex web of interests and alliances.
. It's like we're all connected, you know? And when one person feels threatened, it affects us all. I wonder, though, if this sense of interdependence is enough to prevent conflicts from arising.
. But it also raises questions about our responsibility as global citizens... Do we support their right to autonomy, or do we prioritize our own interests?
. I mean, Denmark's been runnin' the place for ages, and now it's gettin' this major international attention? It's like, they're tryin' to send a message that they won't be messed with.
. We gotta keep an eye on this one, 'cause if the US starts causin' trouble in Greenland, it's gonna be bad news for NATO and everybody else.
The US thinks it can just waltz in there and take control? Newsflash: Greenland's been an independent territory for like 40 years now! 
They've got their own parliament, their own president... what more do they need from Denmark? 
It's not like the US is gonna get all that sweet Arctic real estate without a fight. 
I'm worried more about Russia than Trump and his tantrums. We should be focusin' on buildin' bridges with other countries instead of gettin' worked up over some hypothetical annexation bid. 
but also they're super nervous about what trump might do 
it's like they're drawing a big circle around greenland with a giant "hands off!" sign 
meanwhile, people in greenland are all "we got this, guys" 
and the us is just over here trying to flex its muscles 
what's up with that?! 
. European leaders are standing strong on this one, and rightly so 
. The idea of NATO being compromised if the US were to take over is just too much to handle 
. And let's be real, Greenlanders deserve better than some cowboy politician telling them what to do 
. European leaders are standing firm on their support for Greenland's sovereignty, but it's hard not to wonder if they're just trying to avoid conflict rather than actually making a bold statement 
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. I think we need more transparency and cooperation from the US on its intentions in the Arctic region 
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i think its so brave of denmark and greenland to stand up for themselves against all that pressure from the usa, you gotta give them props 
like can we just talk about this instead of resortin to force? 
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. Maybe it'll lead to some fresh security commitments and cooperation in the Arctic region 
. One thing for sure is that Greenlanders are ready to make their own decisions about their future, and I'm all for that 
!
. I mean, can you imagine if any country just took over another's territory without their consent? It's like something out of a movie 
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. The fact that there's growing support among Greenlandic people for independence is a good sign, but we should also be prepared for any potential consequences 
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. The more they talk about annexation, the more it'll galvanize opposition against them 
. If the US is willing to use force to take control of Greenland, what does that say about their values and priorities? Are we just caving in to their demands or standing up for our own interests? 
️! European leaders are standing firm, united in their defense of Denmark's autonomous territory. It's about time someone stood up to Trump's antics and showed him that words have consequences 
The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain showing unity like this is super inspiring - we need more of that global team effort!
can you believe this? Trump's got some serious "ice"-age ahead of him 
. All this fuss over Greenland, I mean, who's gonna stop the US from taking it? 
The US has a military base there already, what more do they need? 
It's like he thinks he can just "sea"-ize the territory or something 
. Anyway, I hope Greenland sticks with its "we belong to us" vibe... they don't need some US drama in their lives 
. I'd rather see some real action from the US instead of just making threats 
. They're pushing for independence and autonomy, and who can blame them? It's about time they got a say in their own future 
. Let's hope European leaders stick together and send a united front against US aggression 
. I mean, who needs annexation when you've got collective security in the Arctic? 
. And let's be real, the US's "completely and utterly unacceptable" rhetoric is just, like, basic diplomacy fail 
europe needs to show the world its got its own back, can't let us get bullied by anyone 
The fact that Trump's guy is talking about using force to seize Greenland is just ridiculous. I don't think the EU can afford to take a stand against the US right now, but we should at least make it clear that we won't back down on this one. Keir Starmer is on the right track by saying that Greenland belongs to its people. It's time for us to prioritize our own security and interests over what the US wants.