France may send troops to Greenland, says Foreign Minister
Jean-Noel Barrot's comments arise against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Denmark and the United States, particularly following President Trump's insistence that the island should be transferred to Washington. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Amid rising tensions between Denmark and the US, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced France's willingness to deploy troops to Greenland, a point of contention following US President Donald Trump's past remarks about acquiring the territory.
Trump initially proposed the purchase of Greenland during his first presidential term and has since revived this idea after taking office again earlier this year. He has referenced the island's strategic importance for US national security and has not dismissed the possibility of using military force to obtain it. Greenland, recognized as the world’s largest island, is controlled by Denmark, which has firmly stated that it is not for sale.
In a Tuesday interview with France’s Sud Radio, Barrot disclosed that France had initiated discussions regarding troop deployment with Denmark, although he emphasized that Copenhagen is not currently seeking such an operation. He stated, “If Denmark calls for help, France will be there,” and reiterated that “European borders are sovereign whether it’s north, south, east, and west [and]... nobody can allow themselves to mess around with our borders.”
During a recent EU foreign ministers’ meeting, Barrot noted that his counterparts expressed support for Denmark and demonstrated an openness to exploring troop deployment options.
The French minister expressed his belief that “a forcible takeover of Greenland by the US won’t happen [as] people don’t invade EU territories.”
Meanwhile, General Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU Military Committee, mentioned over the weekend that it would be prudent to not only continue stationing US forces in Greenland but also to consider deploying EU troops in the future. The US has maintained a military base on the island since the early 1940s.
In his remarks to Die Welt, Brieger suggested that such a troop deployment would “send a strong signal and could contribute to stability in the region,” particularly in light of potential tensions with Russia and China, exacerbated by climate change and the melting of polar ice caps. He characterized the region as one of significant geopolitical importance.
Brieger also observed that, despite Greenland not being legally part of the EU, the bloc has vested interests in the territory, given its rich natural resources and strategic location along international trade routes. He expressed hope that the US would uphold the principles of territorial integrity and respect for the UN Charter in relation to Greenland.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
Trump initially proposed the purchase of Greenland during his first presidential term and has since revived this idea after taking office again earlier this year. He has referenced the island's strategic importance for US national security and has not dismissed the possibility of using military force to obtain it. Greenland, recognized as the world’s largest island, is controlled by Denmark, which has firmly stated that it is not for sale.
In a Tuesday interview with France’s Sud Radio, Barrot disclosed that France had initiated discussions regarding troop deployment with Denmark, although he emphasized that Copenhagen is not currently seeking such an operation. He stated, “If Denmark calls for help, France will be there,” and reiterated that “European borders are sovereign whether it’s north, south, east, and west [and]... nobody can allow themselves to mess around with our borders.”
During a recent EU foreign ministers’ meeting, Barrot noted that his counterparts expressed support for Denmark and demonstrated an openness to exploring troop deployment options.
The French minister expressed his belief that “a forcible takeover of Greenland by the US won’t happen [as] people don’t invade EU territories.”
Meanwhile, General Robert Brieger, chairman of the EU Military Committee, mentioned over the weekend that it would be prudent to not only continue stationing US forces in Greenland but also to consider deploying EU troops in the future. The US has maintained a military base on the island since the early 1940s.
In his remarks to Die Welt, Brieger suggested that such a troop deployment would “send a strong signal and could contribute to stability in the region,” particularly in light of potential tensions with Russia and China, exacerbated by climate change and the melting of polar ice caps. He characterized the region as one of significant geopolitical importance.
Brieger also observed that, despite Greenland not being legally part of the EU, the bloc has vested interests in the territory, given its rich natural resources and strategic location along international trade routes. He expressed hope that the US would uphold the principles of territorial integrity and respect for the UN Charter in relation to Greenland.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
