The European Union has warned that any United States military takeover of Greenland would effectively spell the end of NATO, with EU member states legally bound to come to Denmark’s defence if the autonomous Arctic territory faced armed aggression.
European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius made the remarks on Monday, January 12, amid renewed controversy sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on Greenland’s strategic importance.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and a founding member of NATO through Denmark.
“I agree with the Danish Prime Minister that it will be the end of NATO, but also among people it will also be very, very negative,” Commissioner Andrius Kubilius told Reuters at a security conference in Sweden, adding that European Union member states would be obliged to assist Denmark under mutual defence commitments if it were attacked.
Shortly after the remarks by the European Commissioner, President Trump responded on Truth Social, claiming he is “the one who saved NATO!”
Trump says U.S. needs to “own” Greenland
The Head of State has repeatedly argued that the United States must own Greenland to prevent Russia or China from gaining a foothold in the Arctic, citing the region’s strategic location and mineral wealth.
He has also claimed that the existing U.S. military presence in Greenland is insufficient to counter rival powers.
Also Read: NATO’s Fate at Stake as Trump Administration Takes Firm Stand on Greenland
Trump escalated his rhetoric last week, saying the United States would “take” Greenland whether it liked it or not.
“We are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not. Because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way.”
Danish and Greenlandic leaders have firmly rejected the claims, insisting that Greenland’s future can only be decided by its people. Greenland gained self-governing status within the Kingdom of Denmark following a referendum, a position that all political parties in its parliament have reaffirmed.
Kubilius has argued that Europe must radically rethink its security architecture in light of Russian aggression and what he described as a shifting U.S. focus away from Europe.
Commissioner calls for European Security Council
While speaking at the Swedish security conference, he called for the creation of a standing European military force of around 100,000 troops and an overhaul of the EU’s defence decision-making structures.
“We need to start to invest our money in such a way, that we would be able to fight as Europe, not just as collection of 27 national ‘bonsai armies’,” he said, borrowing a phrase from former EU High Representative Josep Borrell.
Kubilius added that Europe could instead create — “as Jean-Claude Juncker, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel already proposed 10 years ago” a powerful, standing “European military force” of 100,000 troops.
Also Read: Trump Warned Europe Could Seize US Bases if He Tries to Take Greenland
The former Prime Minister of Lithuania also proposed the creation of a European Security Council, composed of permanent and rotating EU members, alongside EU leadership, to enable faster and more unified defence decisions.
Kubilius said the council should also include the United Kingdom. The idea has been talked up by French President Macron and former German Chancellor Merkel.
“The European Security Council could be composed of key permanent members, along with several rotational members, including the member state with the Council presidency,” said Kubilius. “Plus, the leadership of the EU: Commission and Council presidents.”
His remarks come amid heightened global scrutiny of U.S. foreign policy following recent American military actions in Venezuela, which have fuelled concerns in Europe over the potential consequences of unilateral moves against allied territories.
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