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Tensions have grown between Washington, Denmark and Greenland this month as U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration continued to say the vast Arctic island should belong to the U.S. — and that options including military force are being considered.
Trump reiterated on Sunday the U.S. must “take Greenland,” otherwise Russia or China would, and added that he’d rather “make a deal” for the territory, “but one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”
His declarations have prompted a flurry of meetings and talks this week, though it’s not clear whether words of reassurance about ally-ship and NATO partnership will matter if they’re not coming from Trump himself.
Officials head to Washington
Danish and Greenlandic envoys are expected in Washington this week for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an American takeover of the semi-autonomous territory would mark the end of NATO, a point also stressed by his Greenlandic counterpart.
“Our security and defence belong within NATO. This is a fundamental and firm line,” said Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen in a statement on Monday. The U.S. and Denmark are both founding members of the military alliance.
“We are a democratic society that makes our own decisions. And our actions are based on international law and the rule of law.”
Germany’s foreign minister met with Rubio in Washington on Monday. Johann Wadephul said afterwards that NATO allies had to work together for security, and that Greenland and Denmark should decide the future of the island.
Wadephul echoed other European politicians in rejecting Trump’s avowed intention to take control of Greenland in defiance of his NATO allies.
“We will only strengthen security in the North Atlantic when we work together, in solidarity and united,” he told reporters.
But Anders Vistisen, a Danish member of the European Parliament, told the CBC’s Rosemary Barton that Trump’s rhetoric is already damaging NATO.
“The only one that is winning by these statements from the American administration is China, Russia, other adversaries of NATO,” he said in an interview Sunday.
And he said he held out little hope of anything constructive coming out of the talks between Rubio and Danish officials if the talk of U.S. military action remains on the table.
Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with Anders Vistisen, a Danish member of the European Parliament. They discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements on the U.S. need to own Greenland for national security and what it means for the territory’s sovereignty. Plus, former U.S. ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker joins to discuss the tension growing between allies and what military action in Greenland would mean for NATO’s future.
U.S. lawmakers travel to Denmark
A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation is headed to Copenhagen later this week in an attempt to show unity with Denmark.
Democratic Sen. Chris Coons is leading the trip of at least nine members of Congress, including Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. The group will be in Copenhagen on Friday and Saturday and will meet with high-level Danish and Greenlandic government officials and business leaders.
Coons said Monday the delegation wants to send a message that “we understand the value of the partnership we have long had with them, and in no way seek to interfere in their internal discussions about the status of Greenland.”
Coons stressed that the United States and Denmark have long been allies, noting that the northern European nation came to the U.S.’s defence in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and have for years worked in tandem on other priorities.
“I think the only thing that has changed is the recent statements by the president and the extent to which it seems to have gone from casual to serious, and I just think it’s important for us to be heard as strongly supporting NATO and our alliance,” Coons said.
The delegation considered also travelling to Greenland, but ultimately could not due to logistical issues, according to a person familiar with the trip planning who was granted anonymity to discuss earlier private discussions.
Coons said in addition to reinforcing the U.S.’s relationship with Denmark, he wants the trip to emphasize that “there is no imminent threat to Greenland from the Chinese and the Russians.”
U.S. President Donald Trump says the United States needs to ‘own’ Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so. Meanwhile, all five political parties in Greenland released a joint statement: ‘We do not want to be American.’
China responds to Trump
Beijing also responded to Trump’s comments, saying the U.S. should not use other countries as a “pretext” to pursue its interests in Greenland and that China’s activities in the Arctic comply with international law.
“China’s activities in the Arctic are aimed at promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and are in accordance with international law,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
“The rights and freedoms of all countries to conduct activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law should be fully respected,” she said, without mentioning Greenland directly.
She said that “the Arctic concerns the overall interests of the international community.”
China in 2018 declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in an effort to gain more influence in the region. Beijing has also announced plans to build a “Polar Silk Road” as part of its global Belt and Road Initiative, which has created economic links with countries around the world.
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