PARIS — Outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged the international community “not to waste a lot of time” in response to President-elect Donald Trump's aspirations for Greenland. Trump reiterated this week his interest in bringing the semiautonomous territory of Denmark under U.S. control, even suggesting he would consider military action to achieve this. “We need Greenland for national security purposes,” Trump stated during his comments.

However, during a visit in Paris, Blinken characterized Trump's ambitions as largely rhetorical, asserting, “The idea expressed about Greenland is obviously not a good one ... it’s not going to happen.” He emphasized that it isn’t worth significant discussion given the improbability of Trump’s plans materializing, as detailed by Los Angeles Times and AP News.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also minimized any prospect of a military engagement with Denmark, a crucial NATO ally. He asserted that while the notion of the U.S. invading Greenland is unfounded, there are concerns about a geopolitical shift where power dynamics could cause instability. Barrot noted, “Do we think the United States will invade Greenland? The answer is, ‘No.’”

Furthermore, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed confidence that the U.S. would not leverage military or economic coercion over Greenland, advocating for a U.S. approach that respects the Greenlandic people’s autonomy. The sentiment was echoed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who reiterated the importance of respecting national borders globally, emphasizing that borders must remain inviolate.

With rising geopolitical tensions, European leaders are calling for greater military and economic resilience.