Information
Germany and France have criticized US President-elect Donald Trump’s refusal to rule out military action to take control of Greenland, emphasizing that borders must not be changed by force. Germany’s government spokesperson, Steffen Hebestreit, reiterated the importance of international agreements such as the UN Charter in upholding territorial sovereignty. Although he declined to comment on whether Berlin viewed Trump’s statements as serious, Hebestreit confirmed that Germany had taken note of them. Similarly, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned Trump’s rhetoric, warning against any threats to the European Union’s sovereign borders. Barrot remarked that while an invasion of Greenland by the US seemed unlikely, the situation signalled a resurgence of power-driven global politics.
Trump’s comments have generated controversy as he discussed military or economic strategies regarding Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. He claimed that acquiring Greenland is vital for US security and suggested that tariffs could be imposed on Denmark if it opposed the acquisition. His son, Donald Trump Jr., fueled speculation by visiting Greenland privately. Trump expressed enthusiasm for the idea of making Greenland a part of the US, echoing his earlier interest in purchasing the territory, a proposal that Denmark rejected in 2019, which led to a diplomatic dispute. Interestingly, Polymarket, the online prediction market, currently estimates the chance of Trump acquiring Greenland before July to be just 6%.
Source: Reuters, AFP, Polymarket
So what
It is highly unlikely that the US would not use force to take control of Greenland, regardless of Trump’s extreme rhetoric. It is also unlikely that Greenland would, even if they were allowed to, vote to join the US. However, it is possible that Greenland will be open to allowing US companies to extract some of the resources, which is almost certainly the only reason Trump is interested in the territory.
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