Web Desk: The European Union is ready to help protect Greenland if Denmark asks, the EU defence commissioner said on Monday. He warned that a U.S. military takeover of the island would end NATO.
The remarks come as former U.S. President Donald Trump again pushed his view that the United States must control Greenland.
European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said the EU could support Denmark on security matters in Greenland. He spoke at a security conference in Salen, Sweden.
“I agree with the Danish prime minister that it would be the end of NATO,” Kubilius told Reuters. “It would also be very negative for people.”
He said NATO cannot survive if one ally takes territory from another by force.
Trump has said the United States must own Greenland to stop Russia or China from gaining influence there. Greenland sits in a key Arctic location and holds valuable minerals.
He has said a U.S. military presence on the island is not enough. He has also not ruled out using force.
Denmark and Greenland have both rejected Trump’s claims. They say clearly that Greenland is not for sale.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Denmark and the United States are both members of NATO. They are due to meet later this week to discuss Greenland.
The talks come as global interest in the Arctic grows. Melting ice has opened new sea routes and access to resources.
European officials say security issues must be solved through cooperation. They warn that military action would break trust between allies and weaken NATO.
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