BERLIN: A group of European leaders on Tuesday underlined their support for Denmark after US President Donald Trump again voiced designs on its autonomous Arctic territory of Greenland.

The leaders of France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain as well as Denmark said that sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders were "universal principles, and we will not stop defending them".

Washington's military intervention in Venezuela has reignited fears about Trump's designs on Greenland, which has untapped rare earth deposits and could be a vital player as polar ice melts, opening up new shipping routes.

Greenland is on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States, and Washington already has a military base there.

With the situation in Venezuela more pressing, Trump quipped on Sunday that "we'll worry about Greenland in about two months."

The European leaders' joint statement said: "Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and it is critical for international and transatlantic security.

"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."

They stressed that Denmark—including Greenland—was 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 leaders said.

"These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them."

The statement was signed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

They added that the US was "an essential partner in this endeavor."

"Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland," they said.

Canadian PM reaffirms support

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also met with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, according to a Canadian government statement.

The leaders met on the margins of the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris, France. They affirmed their enduring support for Ukraine against Russian aggression and agreed on the imperative of achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, backed by robust security guarantees.

Prime Minister Carney emphasized Canada’s support for Denmark's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Greenland. He affirmed Canada’s support for the joint statement on Greenland by Denmark and European leaders.

According to the statement, the future of Greenland is for Greenland and Denmark to determine. Canada will continue to work with Denmark, Greenland, and other partners in our shared responsibility for the security and resilience of the Arctic, it added.

Articles tagged with "European Leaders"

European leaders rally behind Denmark after Trump claims on Greenland