The cryptic message about Greenland posted by the White House a few hours ago. “We are monitoring the situation”

The US presidential administration is fueling, through a message posted on social networks, the tensions generated by Donald Trump's declared intention to take over the Arctic island, despite the views expressed by Greenland, Denmark and other US allies.

The White House posted on social media an edited image of US President Donald Trump looking out of his office window at a large map of Greenland with the message “Monitoring the situation”.

The post follows Sunday's statement, when the US president assured that the US will have Greenland “one way or another”.

On Monday, a White House spokeswoman said Trump “hasn't set a timetable” for taking over Greenland, “but it's certainly a priority for him.”

“I think the president was very clear last night,” Karoline Leavitt continued. “He said he wants the United States to acquire Greenland because he believes that if we don't, it will eventually be acquired or even hostilely taken over by China or Russia, which is not a good thing for the United States, Europe or Greenland,” Leavitt added.

“Let's not forget that it would not only be in the interest of the United States, but perhaps in the interest of Greenland to be part of the United States and be protected by the United States,” she continued.

An important meeting on Wednesday

While Trump and his supporters argue that the United States should hold the Danish territory for national security reasons, Greenland, Denmark and other US allies have spoken out against such a move.

Greenland's government said Monday it “cannot accept under any circumstances” Donald Trump's desire to take control of Greenland.

A potentially important meeting on this debate will take place on Wednesday itself. Greenland's foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, and his Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, are to meet in Washington with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

A group of US senators, including Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, who last week said taking over Greenland “shouldn't be on the (US) list”, is also due to visit Copenhagen to meet with politicians from the Danish parliament's Greenland committee.

What the Secretary General of NATO says

Denmark, which has pointed out that a 1951 treaty already allows the US to significantly expand its military presence in the territory, has repeatedly said Greenland is not for sale and hopes a diplomatic solution can be found.

Greenland's government said on Monday that the island is “part of the kingdom of Denmark” and “part of the Danish community, a member of NATO”. It will step up efforts to ensure its defense takes place “within NATO”, the government said.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also stated that the organization is working on ways to strengthen security in the Arctic.

During a visit to Croatia, Rutte said: “All allies agree on the importance of the Arctic and Arctic security, because we know that with the opening of sea routes there is a risk that the Russians and the Chinese will become more active.”

NATO diplomats said some members of the alliance have advanced suggestions, including launching a new mission in the region, deploying additional equipment or holding exercises, but talks are at an early stage and there are no concrete plans.

Rutte did not address Trump's comments on Greenland, but said he welcomed “discussions from other allies on how we can basically come together as an alliance.”

Denmark is “accelerating its defense investments,” he added.

Germany believes there is no danger for now

Answering questions after the meeting with Rubio, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul suggested that at least for now, there is no risk of the US annexing Greenland.

“I have no indication that this is being seriously considered,” he said when asked about the possibility of Trump taking unilateral action.

“Rather, I think there is a shared interest in addressing the security issues that arise in the Arctic region and that we should do so and we will,” he told reporters.

“NATO is only now in the process of developing more concrete plans in this regard, which will then be discussed together with our American partners,” he said.

Instead, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Monday that if the US used military force to seize Greenland, the move would spell the end of NATO, adding that EU states would be forced to come to Denmark's aid if it were attacked.

“I agree with the Danish prime minister that it would be the end of NATO,” Kubilius told Reuters at a conference in Sweden. He said Article 42.7 of the EU treaty, the bloc's mutual assistance clause, would oblige member states to act in the event of an attack.

“It will depend a lot on Denmark, how they react, what position they take,” he said. “But certainly member states have an obligation to provide mutual assistance if another member state faces military aggression,” he said.