ISTANBUL: Denmark, along with six NATO countries, issued a joint statement on Greenland, calling for respect for “sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders” after renewed calls from the US for an American takeover of Greenland.
“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” leaders of Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the UK said in the statement.
The statement recounted that Arctic security remains a “key priority for Europe,” reaffirming that many European allies increased their presence, activities, and investments to keep the region safe.
“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. These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them,” leaders underscored.
They also noted that the US 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.”
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to take control of Greenland, a self-governing territory within Denmark, and has not ruled out doing so with military force.
A day after the US military operation in Venezuela that captured President Nicolas Maduro, Trump on Sunday renewed his calls for an American takeover of Greenland for the sake of US security interests.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged Trump to “stop the threats.”
Several European countries, as well as the EU, voiced strong support for Denmark and Greenland on Monday, rejecting any suggestion that the island’s future could be decided by outside powers and stressing respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
