PARIS, Dec 24 (NNN-XINHUA) – French President, Emmanuel Macron, yesterday, joined European partners in expressing “full solidarity” over the Greenland issue, after U.S. President, Donald Trump, recently reiterated his call to take over the Danish autonomous territory.
“Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark stands as its guarantor. I join my voice to that of Europeans, in expressing our full solidarity,” Macron said on social media platform X.
“In Nuuk, I reaffirmed France’s unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland,” said Macron, referring to his visit to Greenland in June.
On Sunday, Trump announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor, Jeff Landry, as special envoy to Greenland.
“We have to have it (Greenland) and he (Landry) wanted to lead the charge,” Trump said.
Trump’s appointment of the envoy to Greenland has sparked strong diplomatic reactions in Greenland, Denmark and the European Union (EU).
Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said on Monday in a joint statement that, they expect respect for their “joint territorial integrity” from the U.S. side.
“We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again. You cannot annex other countries. Not even with an argument about international security. Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders, and the U.S. should not take over Greenland,” the statement said.
“Preserving the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark, its sovereignty and the inviolability of its borders is essential for the European Union,” EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Anouar El Anouni, told a press conference Monday, adding that, the bloc’s stance is grounded in a long-standing position on the issue.
Sweden on Monday reiterated its support for Denmark on the Greenland issue.
“Sweden stands wholeheartedly behind its neighbour … will always stand up for international law,” Swedish Foreign Minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard said, adding that, “the obligation to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is a fundamental principle of international law.”
Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, David van Weel, yesterday expressed support for Denmark on the Greenland issue on X, saying, it is up to Denmark and Greenland to decide on matters concerning Greenland.
Greenland, a former Danish colony, was granted home rule in 1979. In 2009, Denmark passed the Act on Greenland Self-Government, expanding the island’s authority over its domestic affairs. However, Denmark retains authority over Greenland’s foreign, defence and security policy, according to information on the website of the Prime Minister’s Office of Denmark.– NNN-XINHUA