THE HAGUE - The Danes have not asked for it, but the Dutch Cabinet still wants to “express solidarity with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen,” said Caspar Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs) in a parliamentary debate on the upcoming EU formal summit. According to him, Europe must be united when it comes to respecting each other’s territoriality. “That is beyond dispute.”
The Danish government is in crisis mode because the new American president Donald Trump continues to insist on the transfer of Greenland to the United States. According to him, this is necessary for “national security.” Business newspaper FT reported that Trump also made this known to the Danish Prime Minister in a conversation. When she said that Greenland was not for sale, his tone became aggressive, according to sources.
The Danes are now strengthening their military presence in Greenland. Frederiksen also visited the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and NATO chief Mark Rutte. She also held consultations with the Prime Ministers of the Scandinavian countries. Greenland is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
“We take the Danish concerns seriously,” Veldkamp said. But according to him, we also need to look at which words Trump will make concrete. Veldkamp’s Danish colleague has informed him that Copenhagen “first wants to let the dust settle” and has not yet made a request to take the matter up with the U.S.
Various parties in parliament also asked the Cabinet to support the Danes. Pieter Omtzigt (NSC) said that the EU must stand behind Denmark as a block. He expects a "clear signal" at the upcoming EU summit. Jimmy Dijk (SP) believes that it must be made much clearer to Washington that threatening an ally is not acceptable.