The White House has said President Trump is considering using the US military to acquire Greenland. It said that doing so was a “national security priority” for his administration and it is considering a range of options to secure that goal.
Donald Trump recently stated that the US "needed" Greenland – a semi-autonomous region of fellow Nato member Denmark – for security reasons. He has repeatedly insisted that it must come under US control.
The latest White House statement came shortly after European leaders rallied behind Denmark, whose Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, has warned that any attack by the US on Greenland would spell the end of Nato. Under the rules of the military alliance allies are expected to go to each other’s aid in case of external attacks.
Six European leaders backed Denmark in a joint statement which said: "Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations." The leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain stressed they were as keen as the US to ensure Arctic security and said it must be achieved by NATO allies acting collectively. They called for "upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders".
The European leaders held their urgent talks about Greenland while meeting in Paris to discuss the future of Ukraine and hopes of a peace agreement there. The UK and France signed a declaration of intent to deploy forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal.
The latest suggestions by the US administration that it could acquire Greenland by force come just days after a US military assault on Venezuela, the seizure of its President Nicolas Maduro and a declaration that the country would be run by Washington. Recent national security policy from the Trump administration states its intention to ensure US domination of the “western hemisphere”, including central and south America and the western Arctic.
Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by James Waterhouse, Sarah Smith and Katya Adler.
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