Daily Mail: Rutte declared the "priority" of the Arctic after Trump's words about Greenland
NATO Chief Mark Rutte called ensuring security in the Arctic region a key task of the alliance, the Daily Mail writes. This happened exactly after Donald Trump threatened to use force to annex Greenland to the United States.
Imogen Garfinkel
NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Monday that Arctic security had become a "priority" after Donald Trump announced that the United States would "one way or another" get Greenland.
The US president shocked the alliance of 32 countries by refusing to rule out the possibility of using military force to seize the autonomous territory of Denmark, which is also a member of NATO.
Trump used the need to strengthen security in the Arctic region in the face of confrontation with China and Russia as the main reason why Washington should control this island.
"We are currently working on the next steps to ensure the collective protection of the interests at stake," Rutte told reporters during a visit to Croatia.
"All allies agree on the importance of the Arctic and its security, because we know that with the opening of sea lanes, there is a risk that the Russians and Chinese will become more active," Rutte said.
"We are currently discussing the next step in this direction, how to ensure the practical continuation of these discussions," he added.
NATO diplomats say that some members of the alliance are putting forward ideas, including the possible launch of a new mission in the region.
However, according to them, the discussion is still at the initial stage and there are no concrete proposals.
European leaders have supported Denmark in its quest to resist Trump's desire to get Greenland.
The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland will hold talks with the head of the US State Department, Marco Rubio, this week.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that if Washington launches an armed attack on Greenland, it will put an end to NATO.
Trump, however, reacted by insisting that he had strengthened the alliance by forcing European countries to increase defense spending.
"I am the one who SAVED NATO!!!" — Trump wrote on the Internet.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, the US president said it would be "easier" to make a deal than to seize territory by military force, but insisted it would happen "one way or another" — even if it worsened relations with NATO.
"If we don't capture Greenland, Russia or China will capture it, and I won't let that happen," he told reporters.
"I would love to make a deal with them, it's easier. But one way or another, Greenland will be ours."
The president added that "Greenland does not want to be captured by Russia or China," and said that the territory would benefit from closer ties with the United States, especially in the field of defense.
"Greenland is essentially being protected by two dog sleds," Trump said.
"At the same time, Russian destroyers and submarines, as well as Chinese destroyers and submarines, are cruising everywhere. We will not allow this."
He also sowed fear for the future of NATO, dismissing warnings that his quest to acquire Greenland could undermine the Western alliance, saying, "If it affects NATO, then so be it."
"But, you know, they need us much more than we need them, that's what I'll tell you," Trump added.
The government of Greenland responded to Trump's latest comments with a statement insisting that it "cannot accept under any circumstances" the US desire to control Greenland.
The statement stresses that Greenland is "part of the Danish Kingdom" and "as part of the Commonwealth of the Danish Kingdom, Greenland is a member of NATO, and therefore the protection of Greenland must be carried out by NATO forces."
"Based on the very optimistic statement by the six NATO member states regarding Greenland, the Government of Greenland will make additional efforts to ensure that Greenland's defense is carried out under the auspices of NATO," the statement said.
"All NATO member states, including the United States, have a common interest in Greenland's defense, and therefore the government coalition in Greenland will work with Denmark to ensure that dialogue on Greenland's defense and development takes place within the framework of NATO cooperation."
Last week, six European allies joined forces to support Denmark after the United States insisted that they take control of Greenland.
"Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can resolve issues affecting their relations," the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark said in a joint statement.
Responding to criticism of his so-called charm strategy against Trump, Rutte insisted: "I think Donald Trump is doing the right thing about NATO by encouraging us all to spend more."
He said he was "absolutely convinced" that "without Donald Trump, we would never have achieved such a result at the Hague summit" last year, raising the threshold for military spending to 5% of GDP.
"Therefore, when I praise someone, I am based on facts, and I believe that the facts speak for themselves," he added, addressing reporters during a visit to Croatia, where he met with the country's Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic.
Reacting to Trump's repeated insistence on seizing territory, one resident of Greenland told the BBC that she considered the US president "crazy," while another noted that residents "just want to be left alone."
"He says again: 'We will capture you, we will buy you, we will use military force.' He's crazy," one woman said.
"They shouldn't take over our land and make it American," another added.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had previously warned that any U.S. attack on a NATO ally would mean the end of "everything."
"If the United States decides to launch a military strike against another NATO country, then everything will end — including NATO and, consequently, the security system created after World War II," Frederiksen told Danish TV channel TV2 last week.
