— The question of territory, war and peace is the responsibility of the United States Congress – said Radosław Sikorski on Wednesday, speaking after a meeting with the foreign ministers of France, Germany and India. — I want to know where the United States Congress stands on Greenland – he announced.
In recent days, some US lawmakers have begun to oppose Trump's calls to take over Greenland. On Monday, a bipartisan group of U.S. representatives issued a statement saying that annexing Greenland would be “dangerous” and could spark a “civil war” among NATO members.
On Wednesday, Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu warned: There is no legal justification for the use of military force against a NATO ally like Greenland. If any member of the armed forces participates without congressional approval, they will be obeying illegal orders.
Sikorski was in Paris on the occasion of the visit of Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, but the meeting with European counterparts was also an opportunity to discuss the issue of Greenland.
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What is the position of the US Congress on Greenland?
What did Radosław Sikorski say after the meeting with European ministers?
What threats related to Greenland have been identified by US lawmakers?
What did European ministers in Paris discuss regarding Greenland?
Europe is working on an answer. Emotions around Greenland are growing
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the three European ministers discussed a common European response to Trump's threats, which “has been extended to all European partners.”
“The question at stake is how Europe, the European Union, can be strengthened to stop threats and attacks on its security and interests,” Barrot said.
— Greenland is not for sale and cannot be taken over. The days when Louisiana could be bought and sold are over, so the threats must end, he added, referring to France's sale of the vast territory to the United States in 1803 for $15 million, which in effect doubled the area of America, covering areas from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.
In recent days, Trump has renewed his claims on Greenland — a self-governing Danish territory — following a separate U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last weekend.
On Tuesday, eight top European leaders stressed that Greenland's security must be ensured jointly by NATO, with full respect for the will of its people.
None of the three ministers present in Paris said what options were being considered.
However, officials in Berlin said talks were continuing on Wednesday on how to protect Greenland's sovereignty, following Tuesday's talks on the subject between European leaders and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Paris.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and his foreign counterparts are working on a plan that could include a European deterrent in case the United States tries to attack or take over Greenland, as well as an increased NATO presence in Greenland's immediate vicinity, a German government spokesman said.
Last year, when Trump began to seriously raise the issue of Greenland, French Minister Jean-Noël Barrot did not rule out sending French soldiers to the island.
