Faced with the expansionist wishes of the American leader on Denmark, a member of the European Union, Jean-Noël Barrot asks the European Commission to “protect” the continent “from interference”. Otherwise, the Minister of Foreign Affairs asks to “restore to France its ability to protect itself”.
The Quai d'Orsay raises its tone against Donald Trump and asks the European Union to take its responsibilities. Re-elected president of the United States in November and a few days before his inauguration, Donald Trump announced that he wanted to take control of Greenland. However, this autonomous territory belongs to Denmark, a member of the European Union since 1973.
“If the European Commission does not know how to protect us against this interference or these threats of interference, then it must give back to the Member States, to France, the capacity to protect itself,” launched Jean-Noël Barrot, the Minister of Foreign Affairs this Wednesday morning on France inter.
The annexation of Greenland, “an absolute necessity”
At the end of December, the American billionaire affirmed that the control of Greenland” by the United States was an “absolute necessity” for “national security and freedom throughout the world” before evoking this desire again this Tuesday, January 7 during a press conference.
His son Donald Trump Jr. was at the same time traveling to Greenland for a private visit as a “tourist”.
Donald Trump's remarks caused an outcry in Greenland, and the Prime Minister of the autonomous Danish island, Múte Egede, indicated that the territory would “never be for sale.” “We will not lose the fight that we have been waging for years for freedom,” he said at the end of December.
“The return of the law of the strongest”
European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen did not respond officially to the American leader, despite thinly veiled threats from Donald Trump.
Asked on Tuesday about the guarantee that he would not use the armed forces to annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, Donald Trump replied “not being able to guarantee it”.
“Do I think the United States will invade Greenland? The answer is no. Have we entered an era that sees the return of the law of the strongest? The answer is yes,” he continued to worry. Jean-Noël Barrot on France inter.
It must be said that the island has been attracting interest for several years for its subsoil, which is very rich in rare metals and uranium, essential for producing electric car batteries and wind turbines.
“If we decide to be weak”, “little chance of being respected” by Trump
China has expanded its influence in Greenland in recent years, much to the dismay of the United States. Enough to push the billionaire to play his own part.
During the presentation of his foreign policy roadmap to the ambassadors gathered at the Élysée on Monday, the head of state had already warned the European Commission.
“If we decide to be weak and defeatist, there is little chance of being respected by the United States of America of President Trump,” judged Emmanuel Macron, while clearly being careful not to offend the States -United.
Donald Trump “knows that he has a solid ally, an ally whom he does not disesteem”, said the tenant of the Élysée, calling for “cooperation” with him.
Canada and the Panama Canal in the viewfinder
Could the president-elect really follow through on his expansionist desire? The question is open even though the American is accustomed to making shattering declarations.
A member of the European Union which guarantees the territorial sovereignty of all its member states from a legal point of view, Denmark is also a founding member of NATO, largely financed by the United States. Last December, Denmark also accepted the permanent presence of American forces on its soil through an agreement between Copenhagen and Washington.
Denmark is not the only country affected by Donald Trump's territorial appetite. He has already indicated his willingness to annex the Panama Canal built by the United States if the price of tolls for American ships is not reduced.
Canada is also in the sights of Donald Trump who intends to make it “the 51st American state” by having it “merge” with his country. So many expansionist aims which, on paper, have little chance of succeeding.
