By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-08 18:06:43 | Updated at 2025-01-09 08:02:49
14 hours ago
Members of the European Union vowed it won't allow other countries to attack sovereign borders as President-elect Donald Trump sets his sights on Greenland.
The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot responded to the 78-year-old's refusal to rule out military force to obtain Greenland in a radio interview on Wednesday.
'It is out of the question that the European Union would let other countries... attack its sovereign borders, whoever they are,' Barrot said.
Barrot said he does not believe the U.S. would actually invade the massive island which has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years.
'If you're asking me whether I think the United States will invade Greenland, my answer is no,' Barrot said.
'But have we entered into a period of time when it is survival of the fittest? Then my answer is yes,' he added.
France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, fired back that the EU would not let other countries attack sovereign borders after President-elect Trump would not rule out military force to take Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous Danish territory. The remarks come as its prime minister is scheduled to meet with the Danish King on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, the Danish king changed the royal coat of arms to more prominently feature Greenland.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded to Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland on Tuesday by echoing Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede's remarks that 'Greenland is not for sale and will not be in the future either.'
Germany also slammed the president-elect's comments on Greenland and Canada. A spokesperson said during a regular press conference that 'borders must not be moved by force.'
At its press briefing on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the European Commission said it 'will not go into the specifics' of Trump's remarks amid intense questioning over how it would respond to a U.S. attack on Greenland.
'It is clear that the sovereignty of states has to be respected,' spokesperson Anitta Hipper said.
On Tuesday, Trump was asked during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago whether he would rule out 'military or economic coercion' to take Greenland or the Panama Canal.
'I´m not going to commit to that,' Trump told the room of reporters.
'It might be that you'll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country,' he said.
Trump added 'we need Greenland for national security purposes.'
He has been ramping up threats to take over both in recent weeks as he prepares for his second term which starts in less than two weeks.
The Panama Canal has been solely controlled by the eponymous country for more than 25 years after the U.S. paved the way for it to be returned it to Panama in a treaty signed in 1979 and ended the joint partnership controlling it in 1999.
Greenland has been under Denmark's control since the 14th Century. Of the 57,000 people who live on the island, the vast majority are EU citizens with only about 2,000 being non-Danes.
Greenland's prime minister rejected Trump's offers to buy the island first in 2019 and then again late last year.
Donald Trump Jr. visits Nuuk, Greenland, on January 7, 2025 as its leaders reject his father's push to take control over the massive island
Donald Trump Jr. landed in Greenland on Tuesday for a trip that e insisted was only personal in nature, but the president-elect claimed it included his 'reps' in a post and wrote it was 'a deal that must happen'
Despite the pushback by European leaders, Trump's son Don Jr. made a surprise visit to Greenland on Tuesday, the same day as his father's controversial remarks.
While Don Jr.'s trip to the island was said to be 'personal' and not political, the president-elect wrote in a post that his son was joined by his 'reps' and insisted there was a deal 'that must happen.'
Greenland's government said in a statement that the 47-year-old's visit was that of a 'private individual' and representatives would not meet with him.
