Greenland, Trump: I may impose tariffs on countries that do not agree

Germany currently sees 'no indication' of a possible violation of international law in relation to Greenland. This was stated by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul at a joint press conference with his Austrian counterpart Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Berlin, welcoming the announcement of a dialogue between the United States on the one hand and the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland on the other hand on the future of the island.

The German diplomatic chief acknowledged that 'new security risks' are emerging in the Arctic and reiterated Germany's readiness to take on more responsibility in the region. This also includes sending a reconnaissance mission to Greenland, which shows that Berlin is "ready to take on security responsibilities". "The threats we face cannot be dismissed by individual countries," Wadephul explained, pointing out that "neither the United States, Greenland or Denmark alone, but only the Alliance as a whole" can guarantee common security. This approach, he added, also reflects the spirit of the talks during his recent visit to Washington: 'I am confident that we will arrive at shared results and that this will contribute to security'. Finally, the minister reiterated that 'it is the Greenlanders who decide what happens to Greenland', a matter that falls 'ultimately within the territorial sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark'.

This concept was also reiterated by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, speaking in the Bundestag: 'Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental and non-negotiable principles of our international order. Territorial changes obtained by force have no legitimacy from the point of view of international law'. The minister went on to reiterate the federal government's strategy of investing in the armed forces in order to strengthen NATO's European plan, so that 'it can remain transatlantic', and recalled Germany's commitment to the Alliance's eastern front in particular.

The British idea was supported by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. "It is actually an old Norwegian idea, not by this name, but that of cooperation on the Arctic within NATO," he told the newspaper. Eide noted that countries previously less interested in the region are showing increasing attention, calling this "a positive thing", and emphasised that NATO is the natural forum for military cooperation in the face of emerging challenges.

The US president's special envoy for Greenland Jeff Landry told FoxNews that he plans to visit the Danish territory in March and that he believes an agreement can be reached. President Trump 'is serious, I think he has outlined the key points. He's told Denmark what he's looking for, and now it's a matter of getting Secretary of State Rubio and Vice President JD Vance to reach an agreement,' he explained.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will receive Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen and Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt in Brussels on Monday. This was confirmed by the Atlantic Alliance after the announcement issued by Copenhagen last week, specifying that no press appointments are planned.

The Norwegian diplomatic chief also rejected claims by US President Donald Trump that Russia and China were particularly active around Greenland. Trump has repeatedly argued that the island should become part of the United States, citing its strategic importance for national security and for the defence of the so-called free world from Beijing and Moscow.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov said that "Russia, together with the rest of the world, will observe the development of the unusual situation around Greenland," adding that "Russia assumes that Greenland is the territory of the Danish Kingdom." "The situation is unusual, I would even say extraordinary from the point of view of international law," Peskov was quoted by the Tass news agency as saying, noting that Donald Trump said "that international law is not a priority for him".

"We, together with the rest of the world, will observe what this trajectory will be," he concluded.

On the diplomatic front, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will receive a delegation from the US Congress in Copenhagen today. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen will also attend the meeting, according to a Frederiksen spokeswoman. The delegation will be led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons. In addition to several Democratic congressmen and senators, two members of Trump's Republican Party will also be present. According to Coons, the members of Congress intend to discuss 'enhancing security in the Arctic and strengthening trade relations' with their Danish hosts.

"Compared to a few days ago, the atmosphere has become more serious. People are still calm, but there is a greater awareness that the situation is no longer theoretical. The presence of military forces makes global tensions closer to everyday life'. To Sir, the bishops' agency, Father Tomaž Majcen, a Conventual Franciscan parish priest in Nuuk, thus describes the climate in the city after the government announced that it had increased the military contingent "in and around" the island in preparation for joint exercises with Denmark and other NATO allies, focused on Arctic security. Moreover, almost all 'Arctic' countries in Europe are preparing to send troops to defend the ice island. Sweden, Norway, Germany and even France have decided to take up Denmark's call by sending troops to defend Nuuk.

"The Greenlanders," explains the parish priest in the capital, "speak about it in low voices, often with concern rather than anger" and "many express the same thought I hear repeated most often: we want to live in peace and not become a strategic battleground.

Jeff Landry, Donald Trump's special envoy for Greenland, will visit the Arctic island in March. Laundry himself told Fox, reiterating that Trump is 'serious' about Greenland and that a deal could be reached.