Olaf Scholz says borders ‘must not be moved by force’ after Trump Greenland comments
Olaf Scholz says borders ‘must not be moved by force’ after Trump Greenland comments
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German chancellor speaks alongside Mette Frederiksen as Danish leader calls for greater cooperation in Europe. The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has said that “borders must not be moved by force” after a meeting with Denmark’s leader, Mette Frederiksen, intended to show European unity as Donald Trump presses his demands to gain control of Greenland.
The Danish prime minister met Scholz in Berlin, before meetings with the French president, Emmanuel Macon, in Paris, and the Nato secretary-general, Mark Rutte, in Brussels later on Tuesday. Trump said over the weekend: “I think we’re going to have [Greenland]” and was reported to have threatened Denmark with tariffs over the Danish territory.
The US president has refused to rule out using military force to take the Arctic island, part of the kingdom of Denmark, which continues to control its foreign policy and defence. At a joint press conference in Berlin, neither Scholz nor Frederiksen mentioned Trump or Greenland, but it seemed clear the issue was on their minds.
After speaking about Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and how “inviolability of borders is a fundamental principle of international law”, Scholz said: “The principle must apply to everyone. I made that clear again from this point a few days ago. Borders must not be moved by force.” Switching to English, he added: “To whom it may concern.”.
Frederiksen said Europe was currently facing a “more uncertain reality” that called for greater cooperation: “We need a stronger and more resolute Europe standing increasingly in its own right, capable of defending and promoting Europe and the European interests,” she said. “We have to take more responsibility for our own security.”.
