Europe sees red over Greenland as Trump aide asserts it belongs to US

TOI correspondent from Washington: Hours after top Trump aide Stephen Miller audaciously asserted US “right” over Greenland, leaders of eight European nations on Tuesday stood up for Denmark and its self-governing constituent, bringing the 75-year old transatlantic alliance to a crossroad.

"Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Denmark and the U.K said in a rare joint statement, pushing back at the US position.





In stunning remarks on CNN on Tuesday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Trump immigration czar Stephen Miller questioned Denmark’s right to Greenland, while asserting that it is the formal position of the Trump administration that the long-recognized Danish realm should be part of the United States.

“By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? What is the basis of their territorial claim? The United States is the power of Nato . For the US to secure the Arctic region, to protect and defend Nato and Nato interests, obviously Greenland should be part of the United States,” Miller said.

The Trump aide repeatedly rebuffed the host’s question if he could take the military option off the table, scoffing at Greenland’s 30,000 population and asserting “We wouldn’t need military action…nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland.”

Indeed, the European statement, while pushing back at US claims, was not exactly muscular, preferring to remind Washington of mutual Nato obligations to defend the Arctic. It said that security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively with Nato allies, including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of border, adding "These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them."

"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 ," the statement said.

Individually, European leaders have made stronger statements. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said any US invasion of Greenland would spell an end to Nato , and Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul has warned that the United States will be at war with Europe if it grabs Greenland, asserting Nato members will have an obligation to defend Denmark if it was attacked by the US.

“Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. And since Denmark is a member of Nato , Greenland will, in principle, also be subject to Nato defence,” he said.

Greenland, a Danish colony from 1721 until 1953, is now an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark, locked in a relationship known as the Rigsfællesskab or "Unity of the Realm."

While it is largely self-governing, Denmark controls Foreign Affair, Defense & National Security, and Monetary Policy. No administration before Trump’s had challenged this arrangement.

Miller faced questions on the Trump White House position on Greenland after his wife, also a former White House staffer, posted on social media map of Greenland draped in US colors with the word “Soon” – soon after the US infiltration into Venezuela and its abduction of President Nicolas Maduro. The answers were a cold, chilling assertion of US “right” over Greenland that seemed to answer the question now raging across global capitals: Who’s next?