"The Trump administration has said repeatedly that the US needs to gain control of Greenland, justifying its claim from the standpoint of national security and warning that it will do something about the territory whether they like it or not. This puts the EU and Nato in a difficult spot. Greenland, a largely self-governing part of Denmark, is not a member of the bloc but Denmark is; while the Arctic island is covered by the defence alliance's guarantees through Denmark's membership."
"European governments, led by Denmark's ambassador to the US, Jesper Mller Srensen, and Greenland's envoy, Jacob Isbosethsen, have begun lobbying US lawmakers in the admittedly slim hope they can talk the president out of his territorial ambitions for the island. Diplomatic overtures will also aim to meet US security concerns first by stressing that an existing US-Danish defence treaty from 1951, updated in 2004, already allows for massive expansion of the American military presence on the island, including new bases."
The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed the US needs to gain control of Greenland for national-security reasons and has warned it may act regardless of Greenland's wishes. Greenland is a largely self-governing part of Denmark and is covered by NATO guarantees through Denmark's membership. European leaders have defended Greenland's sovereignty and Denmark's right to decide while lacking a clear strategy to deter or respond to US moves. Denmark and Greenland envoys have begun lobbying US lawmakers and will stress the existing US-Danish defence treaty allows expanded American bases. NATO diplomats plan to boost Arctic military spending and exercises, while officials judge claims about Chinese and Russian naval massing around Greenland to be exaggerated.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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