Brussels, Jan 5, (dpa/GNA) – The European Commission has warned that security interests should never be used, as a pretext for the United States to annex Greenland.
“We would like to remind everyone that Greenland is an ally of the US and also, falls under the protection of the NATO alliance,” a spokeswoman said in Brussels on Monday.
On Sunday evening, US President Donald Trump once again expressed his interest in the North Atlantic island, saying the United States needs Greenland for national security reasons.
He said the island was of great strategic importance, and was currently surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships. Denmark could not ensure security there, he added.
The island of Greenland is part of the kingdom of Denmark, but is largely autonomous and not a member of the EU. It is strategically interesting because of its wealth of raw materials and as a base for military control of the Arctic.
In addition, increasing climate change is resulting in shorter shipping routes, at least in summer. Four-fifths of the Arctic island is covered by ice and is six times the size of Germany, but has a population of just under 57,000.
A spokeswoman for EU foreign policy, chief Kaja Kallas, stressed that the EU stands in solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the kingdom of Denmark, and any changes to its status are solely a matter for the Greenlanders and Danes, she said.
GNA