European Union (EU) Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius warned that the US taking over Greenland with a military campaign would mean the end of NATO.
I agree with the Danish Prime Minister that that will be the end for NATO and in the eyes of the people, the impact will also be very, very negative" - Mr. Kubilius said in an interview on January 12 on the sidelines of a security conference in Sweden.
This statement marked the first time a senior EU official publicly supported the position of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
I will also make it clear that if the US chooses to militarily attack another NATO country, everything will end, including NATO and accordingly the security system established since World War II" - Ms. Frederiksen declared on January 5.
However, this statement is contrary to the views of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte - who affirmed that the alliance is not in crisis.
Greenland is part of Denmark's highly autonomous territory. President Donald Trump once said that the US needs Greenland for its own security and Washington must own this island to prevent Russia and China from acquiring it. According to him, maintaining the US military presence here is not enough to stop Moscow and Beijing.
Until January 7, President Trump was asked if winning Greenland was more important to him than maintaining a military alliance. The US leader did not directly answer the question, but admitted that his administration may have to choose between these two.
Meanwhile, EU diplomats generally do not believe that the US will use force to take over Greenland, but believe that Mr. Trump will achieve some benefits - at least increasing the US military presence.
