Brussels: The European Commission has issued a warning to the United States, emphasizing that security interests should not be used as a pretext for annexing Greenland. The announcement came after recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who reiterated the strategic importance of the North Atlantic island for American national security.
According to Ghana News Agency, a spokeswoman in Brussels stressed Greenland's status as an ally of the US and its place under NATO's protective umbrella. The statement underscores the European Union's position that any alteration in Greenland's status should be decided by Greenlanders and Danes, reflecting the island's autonomy within the kingdom of Denmark.
On Sunday, President Trump expressed his concern over Greenland's security, citing its strategic location and the presence of Russian and Chinese ships in its surrounding waters. He questioned Denmark's capacity to maintain security in the region, highlighting the island's significance due to its raw material wealth and potential for military operations in the Arctic.
Greenland, though part of Denmark, operates with considerable autonomy and is not an EU member. Its geographic and strategic importance is amplified by climate change, which is opening shorter summer shipping routes. Despite its vast size-six times larger than Germany-Greenland's population remains under 57,000, with four-fifths of its landmass covered by ice.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas's spokeswoman reiterated the EU's solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, affirming that any decision regarding Greenland's future must involve both Greenlanders and Danes.