In the matter concerning Greenland, the EU sides with the Kingdom of Denmark, European Commission spokeswoman Anitta Hipper said at a conference in Brussels on Monday, when asked about the planned visit of a US delegation to the island and the related controversies.
Greenlandic and Danish authorities have criticized a planned visit to Greenland this week by the wife of US Vice President Usha Vance, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Minister Chris Wright. Acting Prime Minister of Greenland Mute B. Egede said in a statement posted on Facebook that the visit of the American delegation cannot be considered a private one. “Our integrity and democracy must be respected without any outside interference,” he said.
The European Commission was asked about this issue on Monday. “The European Union stands with the Kingdom of Denmark. This is the most important thing. (…) The EU will continue to support the principle of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the Charter of the United Nations. These are universal principles that we defend and we will not stop defending, especially if the territorial integrity of the Member States of the European Union is questioned,” Hipper replied.
Egede added on Facebook that until a new government is formed in Greenland, there will be no meeting with the US delegation. The island, an autonomous territory dependent on Denmark, held elections in early March. The new authorities have not yet been formed.
Greenland's prime minister called on the island's residents to “unite in defense of the country,” referring to an anti-American demonstration that took place in mid-March outside the U.S. consulate in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, in which nearly 1,000 Greenlanders took part.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also said the US delegation's visit to the island “should not be seen in isolation from previous public statements.” President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to take over Greenland several times in recent weeks.
“We want to cooperate with the Americans, but this must be based on the fundamental values of sovereignty and respect between countries and societies,” Frederiksen stressed.
From Brussels Łukasz Osiński (PAP)
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