Name: How unified is Europe when it comes to defending Greenland? | DW News
Uploaded: 2026-01-05T17:21:41.000Z
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Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen has told Donald Trump to stop the threats about the US Taking over Greenland.

It follows a post by Katie Miller, the wife of one of Trump's top aides, Stephen Miller, showing Greenland in the colors of the American flag.

She added the word soon alongside the picture on Air Force One.

On Sunday evening, the president once again reiterated his his desire to take over the Danish territory.

Don't worry about Greenland in about two months.

On Venezuela, we talk so much about energy.

By the way, I have to, I will say this about Greenland.

We need Greenland from a national security situation.

Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.

We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and

Denmark is not going to be able to do it, I can tell you.

Let's now speak to Terry Schultz, DW correspondent in Brussels.

Terry, I understand you've just been to the European Commission briefing where Venezuela and Greenland were the top issues discussed.

Can you give us any more clarity about the EU positions?

It was a pretty rough start for the European Commission's spokesperson service beginning the new year with these issues, which obviously made them very uncomfortable, and

they were absolutely not willing to go beyond this rather bland statement that was put out yesterday.

Even 24 hours later, the only reference that they're making to the United States is to say that EU officials have been in touch with the US the rest of their statements, like the written statement yesterday, simply referred to unnamed actors, of which there aren't very many, saying that they hope that international law is upheld and the UN principles, which are things like refraining from the use of force and peaceful resolution of disputes.

The spokespeople would not say anything more about whether they believe the US Actions were justified, whether they were legal.

They said it's too early to make those assessments and they wouldn't even use any new words to describe this, despite getting dozens of questions.

Now, when it comes to Greenland, they're a bit more clear on what, what the EU position is, but

They in fact reiterated December 22nd position that says the EU obviously supports Denmark's territorial sovereignty and that any decisions made about Denmark or Greenland are for those people alone.

It really has seems to have put the EU in another one of those uncomfortable positions where they feel like they can't criticize or even make any assessment about what the United States has done for fear of retaliation by the Trump administration.

Well, a cautious approach to be sure, Trump seems to be renewing his push to annex Greenland.

What is at least your sense how unified is Europe when it comes to defending Greenland?

This is not the same question as what to say about Venezuela.

This is a territory here in Europe and Denmark is a member of the European Union and perhaps more complex, a member of NATO.

Now, there are questions about whether Denmark would declare, for example, Article 4 consultations at NATO when a which are used when a country feels that its territorial integrity is threatened.

Does Denmark feel that the latest Trump statements have gone that far?

And I'm sure that there will be a lot of pressure on Denmark not to bring it to that level yet.

But with Trump reiterating this and even saying that the EU knows it needs the US to take over Greenland, this does indeed seem to be taking it a step further in terms of the US Rhetoric.

And we'll just have to see if, if the European Union and or Naito come out with any statements about this.

Terry Schultz, DW correspondent in Brussels.