Greenland’s sovereignty at the center of diplomatic tensions: leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom have urged the United States this Tuesday to respect the autonomy of the Danish territory. The statement comes following recent remarks by President Donald Trump, who reiterated his interest in incorporating Greenland due to its strategic value and mineral resources.
Joint statement underlines Danish autonomy
In a unified statement, European leaders emphasized that any decision regarding Greenland’s sovereignty falls exclusively to Denmark and the island. “It is up to Denmark and Greenland, and only them, to decide on their affairs,” they declared. This position seeks to halt speculation about annexation, recalling the island’s special status as part of the Kingdom of Denmark with self-government since 2009.
Greenland’s sovereignty: historical context and Trump’s claims
Background of US interest
The United States‘ interest in Greenland is not new. In 1946, President Harry Truman offered 100 million dollars to Denmark for the territory, which was rejected at the time. Trump revived the issue in 2019, describing it as necessary for national security in the face of climate change that opens arctic routes and exposes rare earth deposits, vital for technology. Greenland holds 25% of the world’s unexploited reserves of these minerals, according to recent geological data.
Support from key leaders
The initiative has the explicit support of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Premier Donald Tusk, Spanish Head of Government Pedro Sánchez, British Premier Keir Starmer, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. All insist that Arctic security must be handled collectively via NATO, of which Denmark has been a member since 1949.
The leaders invoke the United Nations Charter, which protects Greenland’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and borders. Any unilateral move by the United States could strain Atlantic alliances at a time of growing Russian and Chinese challenges in the Arctic.
- Greenland: 56,000 inhabitants, 80% covered in ice.
- Resources: Zinc, uranium, iron, and rare earths.
- NATO: Coordinates Arctic defense with an emphasis on allied cooperation.
This European firmness reaffirms respect for Greenland’s sovereignty as a pillar of the international order, in the face of growing geopolitical pressures.
