EU leaders are warning Donald Trump not to meddle in Europe’s borders

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European leaders warned Donald Trump against interfering with the continent’s borders on Wednesday, a day after the US president-elect refused to rule out taking Greenland by force.

The comments by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot came a day after Trump made his comments. designs Greenland and the Panama Canal.

Greenlandthe largest island in the world, it is an independent territory of Denmark which itself is not part of the EU.

“Borders should not be enforced,” Scholz said, arguing that “the principle of non-transgression of borders applies to every country, regardless of whether it is in the east or the west to us”.

He added: “In my discussions with our European partners, a certain lack of understanding has emerged regarding recent statements from the US.”

Denmark retains control of Greenland’s foreign and security policy, although the region left the EU in 1985 following a referendum.

“It is clear that there is no question that the EU allows other nations in the world, whoever it is, and I would say starting with Russia, to attack its independent borders,” Barrot told the radio station France Inter radio on Wednesday after being asked about the prospect. of the US attempt to take Greenland from Denmark by force.

The French foreign minister added that he did not expect Trump to attack Greenland, but said Europe needs to “wake up” to an insecure world, echoing French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments earlier this week. “We are a strong continent, we need to strengthen ourselves further,” said Barrot.

The EU treaty contains a safeguard clause that states that if any member is “a victim of armed violence on its territory”, other countries “have an obligation to assist and assist in all possible ways of them”. This step was taken once before, by France, after the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris.

The European Commission has confirmed that the collective security clause will apply to Greenland in the hypothetical event of a military attack against it, even though the island is not part of the EU.

In 2019, during his first term, Trump said the US should take control of Greenland – a suggestion that Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at the time was “absurd”.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s foreign minister, on Wednesday said he was willing to talk to the US about “how we can cooperate more to ensure that America’s (Arctic) ambitions are fulfilled”. Múte Egede, the prime minister of Greenland, met with King Frederik X of Denmark during the day.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken added at a press conference in Paris that Trump’s idea of ​​taking control of Greenland was “not good” and “clearly not going to happen”.

At a press conference this week, Trump vowed to “Denmark’s fee is very high” unless the country gave up Greenland. He also suggested that the US could include Canada and asked Nato members to spend 5 percent of their GDP on defense, more than the current double target.

When asked whether he would not include the use of military force or economic pressure to gain Greenland or control the Panama Canal, the president-elect said: “No, I can’t guarantee you either of those two. . But I can say this, we need them for economic security . . . for national security reasons.

EU leaders are “very confused by Trump’s comments”, said a senior EU official involved in talks between the heads of state in recent days.

“Every day there are new concerns for us (from Trump),” the official said, adding that the visit of Trump’s son, Donald Jr, to Greenland on Tuesday came as a surprise block.

The EU is also concerned Elon MuskTesla boss and Trump supporter, who supported the far-right Alternative for Germany ahead of national elections and attacked Britain’s Labor government.

The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, in a speech to mark 50 years since the death of the Spanish, “The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, is led by the richest man in the world. The dictator Francisco Franco. “Incites hatred and supports the heirs of Nazi Germany in elections.”

Barrot called on the European Commission to “use vigorously the tools we have given it in democracy”, noting the latest EU law to moderate internet content.

“Public communication cannot be transferred to large social media platforms owned by American billionaires without regulatory control,” the French foreign minister added.

Additional reporting by Barney Jopson of Madrid