Outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has advised the world “not to waste a lot of time” on what President-elect Donald Trump has been saying about Greenland.
The Republican made clear again this week that he would like the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark to come under US control and said he would not rule out the use of military force to make that happen.
“We need Greenland for national security purposes,” Mr Trump said.
But Mr Blinken said on Wednesday that the incoming president’s ambitions are unlikely to amount to anything more than talk.
Anthony Blinken held talks with Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris (Thibault Camus/AP)
“The idea expressed about Greenland is obviously not a good one,” the senior US diplomat said during a stop in Paris for meetings.
“Maybe more important, it’s obviously one that’s not going to happen. So we probably shouldn’t waste a lot of time talking about it,” he said.
France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot also played down any possibility of US forces being deployed against Denmark, a US ally in the Nato military alliance.
But Mr Barrot warned nevertheless that Europe must brace for turbulence ahead – as other powers throw their weight around.
“Do we think the United States will invade Greenland? The answer is, ‘No,’” the French minister said. “But do we think that we’re entering into a period that sees the return of the law of the strongest, the answer is, ‘Yes.’”
Europe must become stronger militarily and more economically and commercially competitive in response, Mr Barrot said.
“We have to go a lot further to affirm who we are, what we want,” he said.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said she does not believe the United States will use military or economic power to secure control over Greenland and has appealed for US behaviour “that is respectful of the Greenlandic people”.
In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that the principle of inviolability of borders applies to every country no matter how powerful, in a reaction to Mr Trump’s remarks that did not mention him by name.
“Borders must not be moved by force,” Mr Scholz said.