Greenland and Trump’s tariff threats, the response of eight European countries

In their declaration the European countries, all members of NATO, affirm that they are “committed to strengthening Arctic security within the scope of shared transatlantic interests”. And they underline that this weekend’s exercise, led by Denmark in Greenland, Artic Endurance, falls within the scope of this commitment. “The threat of tariffs undermines transatlantic relations and risks triggering a dangerous spiral, we will continue to be united and coordinate our responses, we are committed to defending our sovereignty”, concludes the declaration of the eight nations, all except Norway and the United Kingdom in the EU, reiterating solidarity with Denmark and the people Greenlandic and underlining that it is dialogue, not threats of tariffs, that resolve the differences. “Building on the process started last week – they say, referring to the meeting in Washington between the USA, Denmark and Greenland – we are ready for a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

Rasmussen today in Oslo, tomorrow in London then in Stockholm

“In an unstable and unpredictable world, Denmark needs close friends and allies” said the Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, has announced a diplomatic tour, which will take him today to Oslo, tomorrow to London and Thursday to Stockholm, in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s threat to impose additional tariffs on eight European countries, including the three countries that Rasmussen visits, which oppose his expansionist aims on the Arctic island, autonomous Danish territory.

“Our countries share the same positions on the need to strengthen NATO’s role in the Arctic and I look forward to discussing it with them”, added the head of Danish diplomacy.

German military teams leave island: “Reconnaissance mission completed”

The reconnaissance team of 15 German soldiers sent to Greenland in recent days will leave the Arctic island today to travel to Copenhagen. A German military spokesperson made this known to Dpa, referring to the soldiers who arrived on Friday as part of the reconnaissance mission led by Denmark in view of the planned military exercise. The spokesperson for the command and control center of the German forces explained that the mission has concluded and that “the results of the reconnaissance will be analyzed in the next few days”.

The return of the German military comes the day after Donald Trump announced additional duties starting from February 1st for the eight European countries that have sent soldiers to the island, an autonomous Danish territory, which have announced their participation in the exercises.