European allies engaged on plan ought to US transfer on Greenland

[ad_1] Merchandise 1 of three A person walks as Danish flag flutters subsequent to Hans Egede Statue in Nuuk, Greenland, March 9, 2025. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photograph

[1/3] A person walks as Danish flag flutters subsequent to Hans Egede Statue in Nuuk, Greenland, March 9, 2025. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photograph <a data-testid="Link" target="_blank" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/the-city-of-nuuk-ahead-of-the-march-11-general-election-in-greenland/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjU6bmV3c21sX1JDMlU5REE3TkhZVA%3D%3D/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead" rel="noopener" class="text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76 collapsible-caption-module__license__CPQvV">Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab PARIS/BERLIN, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Allies together with France and Germany are working intently on a plan on find out how to reply ought to the US act on its threat to take over Greenland , as Europe seeks to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's ambitions within the area. A U.S. navy seizure of Greenland from a longtime ally, Denmark, would ship shock waves by way of the NATO alliance and deepen the divide between Trump and European leaders.

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French International Minister Jean-Noel Barrot mentioned the subject would be raised at a gathering with the overseas ministers of Germany and Poland later within the day. "We need to take motion, however we need to accomplish that along with our European companions," he mentioned on France Inter radio.

A German authorities supply mentioned individually that Germany was "intently working along with different European nations and Denmark on the subsequent steps concerning Greenland".

Leaders from main European powers and Canada have rallied behind Greenland this week, saying the Arctic island belongs to its individuals, following a renewed risk by Trump to take over the territory. TRUMP RENEWS GREENLAND AMBITIONS Trump has in recent days repeated that he desires to achieve management of Greenland, an thought first voiced in 2019 throughout his first presidency. He argues the island is essential for U.S. navy technique and claims Denmark has not completed sufficient to guard it. The White Home mentioned on Tuesday that Trump was discussing choices for buying Greenland, together with potential use of the U.S. navy, in a revival of his ambition to regulate the strategic island, regardless of European objections.

Barrot steered a U.S. navy operation had been dominated out by Washington's prime diplomat.

"I actually was on the cellphone yesterday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (...) who confirmed that this was not the strategy taken ... he dominated out the opportunity of an invasion (of Greenland)," he mentioned.

A U.S. navy operation over the weekend that seized the leader of Venezuela had already rekindled issues that Greenland may face an identical situation. A senior U.S. official, talking on situation of anonymity, mentioned this week that Trump and his advisers had been discussing quite a lot of methods to amass Greenland, together with a purchase order. Greenland and Denmark have mentioned the island shouldn't be on the market.

Denmark's International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, have requested an pressing assembly with Rubio to debate the state of affairs.

"We want to add some nuance to the dialog," Rasmussen wrote in a social media submit. "The shouting match should be changed by a extra smart dialogue. Now."

DENMARK REJECTS CLAIM RUSSIAN, CHINESE SHIPS STALK GREENLAND The world's largest island however with a inhabitants of simply 57,000 individuals, Greenland shouldn't be an unbiased member of NATO however is roofed by Denmark's membership of the Western alliance.

The island is strategically situated between Europe and North America, making it a important website for the U.S. ballistic missile defence system for many years. Its mineral wealth additionally aligns with Washington's ambition to scale back reliance on China.

Trump has repeatedly mentioned Russian and Chinese language vessels are stalking waters round Greenland, which Denmark disputes.

"The picture that is being painted of Russian and Chinese language ships proper contained in the Nuuk fjord and large Chinese language investments being made shouldn't be appropriate," Rasmussen advised reporters late on Tuesday.

Vessel monitoring information from MarineTraffic and LSEG present no presence of Chinese language or Russian ships close to Greenland.

Reporting by John Irish in Paris, Andreas Rinke in Berlin, Terje Solsvik and Nerijus Adomaitis in Oslo; Writing by Niklas Pollard; Modifying by Ros Russell