Name: European leaders hit back at Trump’s takeover designs on Greenland
Uploaded: 2026-01-07T08:25:15.844Z
Duration: 2 min 4 s
Description: A number of European leaders have hit back at United States President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for the US to take over Greenland.

A number of European leaders have hit back at United States President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for the US to take over Greenland.

Brussels

European leaders have expressed alarm over US President Donald Trump's repeated suggestions that the United States could buy or take over Greenland, citing security concerns related to Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic. Denmark and other European nations have warned that any attempt to seize Greenland would threaten the integrity of NATO and stated that only Denmark and Greenland have the authority to decide the territory's future.

At a meeting in Paris, European leaders issued a joint statement affirming Greenland's right to self-determination and emphasizing the importance of alliance unity amid global instability. While some officials remain open to dialogue with Washington, they stressed that any move to undermine NATO would not be accepted in Europe.

European leaders hit back at Trump’s takeover designs on Greenland

Greenland. Isolated, sparsely populated, mineral-rich and strategically critical. An Arctic territory guarding key North Atlantic routes and the focus of growing tension between Europe and the United States. Donald Trump says he wants Greenland for security, pointing to Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic. But his repeated comments that the United States could buy or just take it over are triggering increasing alarm in Europe, with Denmark warning a move on Greenland would mean the end of NATO. I believe that the American president should be taken seriously when he says he wants Greenland. But I also want to make clear that if the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops. European leaders meeting in Paris to discuss Ukraine have rallied to her support, feeling the need to remind Trump that Greenland is one of them, not up for grabs. In a joint statement they said Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland and them only to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland. Here at the Danish embassy in London, the fear goes beyond Greenland itself. European governments fear that even rhetorical threats against a fellow NATO ally could risk weakening the alliance at a time of heightened global instability. Others say they are open to dialogue, even hoping they have misunderstood Trump's threats. I would like it to be clear in Washington that any attempts to break up or undermine the essence of NATO, the North Atlantic Alliance, will probably not be accepted in any European country. Greenland hosts a key US missile warning base and holds rare earth minerals, both of interest to the US. But under international law, it also has the right to self-determination. For now, Europe is presenting a united front defending this island with words. Whether that unity is tested further may depend on what comes next from Washington. Charlie Angela, Al Jazeera, London.

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