European leaders put foot down after Trump’s Venezuela action: ‘Greenland belongs to its people’ | World News

US President Donald Trump’s claim to seek control over the territory of Greenland has complicated matters in the Arctic region. (File Photo/AP)

Following the developments in Venezuela, where the US military launched an operation and captured its leader Nicolas Maduro on alleged narcoterrorism charges, a joint statement the European leaders backed Greenland and its sovereignty and said that the island belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Britain, and Denmark said the security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively, in conjunction with NATO allies, including the United States (US). “These are universal principles and we will not stop defending them,” the statement added.

US President Donald Trump has recently reiterated that America wants to take over Greenland. In a recent interview with The Atlantic magazine, he said, “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.” The renewed interest the Trump adminration in taking over the Danish territory sent alarm bells across the major European powers.

The statement the European leaders added, “NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European Allies are stepping up. We and many other Allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries.”

After the US forces carried out an operation in Venezuela and captured its president on Saturday, the action rekindled concerns among NATO allies that Greenland could face a similar scenario.Story continues below this ad

Greenland is the world’s largest island with a population of 57,000 and is not part of the western military alliance NATO. But the island is covered Denmark’s membership of the Western military alliance.

Greenland’s Prime Miner Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Monday said that his adminration is seeking to strengthen their relationship with the US and that the people of Greenland must not fear an imminent takeover Washington.

(with inputs from Reuters)