Donald Trump has announced his intention to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. He has mentioned this several times since winning the presidential election last November.
Trump has even threatened to use military force to seize Greenland. In response to this, France is now considering the deployment of troops to the Arctic island. This information was reported by Anadolu News Agency on Tuesday (January 28).
The agency states that, in reaction to Trump’s controversial comments about Greenland, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that France is considering deploying troops to the island. He also mentioned that France has already discussed the matter with Denmark but emphasized that there are no immediate plans for military deployment.
In an interview with Sud Radio, Barrot said, “At this moment, it is not Denmark’s desire. Europe will take action if security interests are threatened.”
In light of Trump’s growing interest in acquiring Greenland, Denmark has been seeking the support of European countries. Trump has cited the natural resources and strategic value of the Arctic island, stating, “I think we are going to get it.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is meeting with European leaders to discuss the issue and has rejected any immediate military threats against Greenland. She has also emphasized the importance of transatlantic cooperation.
French Foreign Minister Barrot described the Arctic region as a “new theater of conflict,” while Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen has shown a cautious approach to avoid further escalation of tensions.
Recently, Denmark announced a €2 billion investment in Arctic defense.
It is noteworthy that Donald Trump took the oath of office as President of the United States on January 20. However, before this, he had expressed his desire to acquire Greenland multiple times. In the second week of January, he called the Arctic island “important” for the U.S. national and economic security. During his first term in 2019, he had also shown interest in purchasing Greenland. Since then, he has raised the idea repeatedly.
However, Denmark, a longtime ally of the United States, has made it clear that Greenland is not for sale. The territory belongs primarily to its inhabitants. Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Egede has been pushing for independence from Denmark but has also clearly stated that the region is not for sale.
It is worth mentioning that Greenland, with a population of only 57,000, enjoys self-governance, but its economy largely depends on subsidies from Copenhagen, and it remains part of Denmark. While 80% of the island is covered in ice, it has the world’s largest reserves of rare minerals, which are vital for the production of batteries and high-tech devices.