Athens, Jan 7, (dpa/GNA) – European Council President António Costa, has assured Greenland and Denmark of solidarity in the face of fresh US claims to the world’s largest island.
“On Greenland, allow me to be clear: Greenland belongs to its people,” Costa said at the opening ceremony of the European Union’s rotating presidency in Cyprus’ capital, Nicosia.
“Nothing can be decided about Denmark or Greenland without Denmark, or without Greenland. They have the full support and solidarity of the European Union.”
Costa said Europe was more than a geographic concept, describing it as a community founded on shared values.
“Our collective strength is based on a prosperous economy and increased investment in defence – yes. But, above all, it depends on the consistency with which we defend those values.”
“That is why the European Union cannot accept violations of international law – whether in Cyprus, Latin America, Greenland, Ukraine, or Gaza,” Costa added.
“Europe will remain a firm and unwavering champion of international law and multilateralism,” concluded.
The White House has not ruled out military intervention to annex Greenland, after President Donald Trump recently said the US “needs” to take control of the Danish territory for security reasons.
Greenland, with a population of around 57,000, is largely autonomous but officially belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark.
On January 1st, Cyprus, one of the smallest EU countries, took over the EU Council Presidency. The island nation has only around 1 million inhabitants. The council presidency changes every six months; Denmark held it until the end of December.
GNA