Greenland’s prime minister has said “we choose Denmark” before high-stakes talks at the White House as Donald Trump seeks to take control of the Arctic territory.
Amid rising tensions over the US president’s push, Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Tuesday told a joint press conference with his Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen, that the island would not be owned or governed by Washington.
“We are now facing a geopolitical crisis. If we have to choose between the US and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark, Nato and the EU,” Nielsen said, adding that the island’s “goal and desire is peaceful dialogue, with a focus on cooperation”.Trump’s pursuit of the island was also a matter of “international law and our right to our own country”, he said.
According to PM Ulf Kristersson, Sweden is sending personnel from the Armed Forces to Greenland “at Denmark’s request”
Both Norway and Germany have pledged to send troops too
France as well, they are taking part of a “cold-weather exercise”
Currently confirmed Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Finland, UK. Canada has apparently announced but it’s not clear if it will be troops or diplomatic - I hope troops. Finally, Netherlands is possible but not fully confirmed.
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Canada have substantial combined Arctic warfare capability.
It looks so dumb playing coy when the whole world knows what’s up.
But whatever. At least they’re vaguely standing together against the most blatant imperialism - now that European land is immediately threatened.
It’s really bizarre and stupid, and yet it might be one of the best tools for peace in the long run.
Both sides can pretend to ante up, can pretend to posture, can pretend to threaten, under the guise of heated talks and “training exercises”…and then can still have the chance to back down without losing face before any live-fire happens because nobody actually declared what was happening, was happening.
At least I hope this is kinda the case. Either way, it’s infinitely more stupid than simply not picking fights with random territories. But what would I know?