EU politicians have threatened to deploy European troops to Greenland and refused to negotiate with Trump over his plans to buy the island. Denmark has announced a multi-billion dollar boost to its armed forces in the Arctic after Trump doubled-down on his intention to take the landmass.
The EU has vowed to support Denmark's army, pictured hereCredit: Facebook
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen speaking to the media. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is overseeing a cash dump to beef up the country's Arctic military presenceCredit: Getty
Donald Trump speaking to reporters.
Trump told reporters he thought the US would 'get Greenland' in the Air Force One Map of Arctic trade routes highlighting Greenland's strategic location. This map shows why Greenland would be a valuable asset to the US
General Robert Brieger of Austria, the top EU military official, said it "would make perfect sense" to station EU troops in Greenland. He added: "That would send a strong signal and could contribute to stability in the region." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also said in an interview with France's Sud Radio that France had “started discussing [troop deployment] with Denmark”, but that it was not “Denmark’s wish” to proceed with the idea.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, said the bloc was "not negotiating" with the American President, who has said he needs Greenland for security purposes. She added: "Of course we are supporting our member state, Denmark, and its autonomous region, Greenland, but we shouldn't also go into speculation about what-ifs because this is not the situation right now."
The Estonian diplomat struck back after Trump repeated his vow that Greenland would fall under American control. The US President said on Saturday: "I think the people [of Greenland] want to be with us.
"I don't really know what claim Denmark has to it, but it would be a very unfriendly act if they didn't allow that to happen because it's for the protection of the free world.
"I think Greenland we'll get because it has to do with freedom of the world." In response to Trump's renewed warnings that the US will acquire Greenland, Denmark announced on Monday it would splurge over $2billion bolstering its military force in the Arctic.
The nation's Ministry of Defence said the package aims to “improve capabilities for surveillance and maintaining sovereignty in the region". The investment will fund three new Arctic naval vessels, two drones with long-range surveillance capabilities and more Arctic basic military training. Troels Lund Poulsen, Denmark’s minister of defence, said: “We must face the fact that there are serious challenges regarding security and defence in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
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