Greenland: how to ease the tensions?
In a break with the original plan, US Vice President JD Vance will now join his wife Usha on her visit to Greenland. In the wake of protests from Greenland and Denmark, the couple have announced that they would head to the US Space Base Pituffik rather than visiting historical sites and meeting local residents. Commentators take stock.
Convey understanding and respect
Berlingske would like to see the royal family send a signal:
“The governments of Greenland and Denmark could ask King Frederik to travel to Greenland - preferably on Friday. ... The king's presence would emphasise Greenland's territorial sovereignty within the kingdom. ... Part of the response to the United States is that the Kingdom of Denmark understands America's concerns. Greenland and Denmark are of course ready to discuss expanded military and security cooperation that respects the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the kingdom. All conflicts and disputes are about finding a way to reach out to each other.”
EU and Nato must react
Politiken calls for a clear and united response to the US's provocations:
“The reaction should not come from Nuuk and Copenhagen alone. Brussels should give swift and unreserved support to Greenland and Denmark. ... The EU and Nato must stand shoulder to shoulder with the two in a fundamental defence of the sovereignty of nations. It's hard to believe that Donald Trump has driven the world to a point where such things can no longer be taken for granted. That's almost the scariest thing of all.”
Seeking to fulfil a long-cherished desire
Trump isn't the only one in the US to flirt with expansionist fantasies, comments Karar:
“Even if Denmark doesn't take the possibility of a violent takeover very seriously, this is still a possibility. More and more newspapers, especially the New York Times, are mentioning the importance of Greenland for America and providing their readers with geopolitical arguments to justify Trump. We shouldn't be surprised if this issue soon becomes a reality beyond the Make-America-Great-Again rhetoric. After all, the interest in this region is not new. The US has been interested in Greenland since the 1860s, or more precisely: it wants to buy it.”
Tearing down the world order with a smile
Aftonbladet comments:
“Just this weekend Vice President JD Vance adopted a tougher tone towards Greenland and Denmark. He told Fox News that the US could 'take control of Greenland' if President Trump deemed it necessary for the country's security. These statements violate several international laws and principles. Of course the Trump administration knows this very well, but they obviously don't give a hoot about the consequences. Usha Vance is an intelligent woman who knows exactly what she's doing. The fact that she is helping to tear down the world order with a radiant smile on her face only makes it more unpleasant.”
Congress trumps Trump on this matter
Copenhagen and Nuuk should establish a direct line of communication with the US Congress, advises Berlingske:
“Trump's government is based on the idea that the president has extremely far-reaching powers. The point, however, is that the constitution gives Congress alone, not the president, the power to decide to take over other countries by force. ... Denmark and Greenland must join forces to make it difficult for Trump to continue the provocations or take illegal action citing US security. The important thing now is to talk to the US Congress, not the president, who won't listen anyway.”
Turn them away
Jyllands-Posten calls for immediate action:
“Can't we check the mobile phones of Mrs Vance and her high-ranking entourage to see if anyone has written anything nasty about Greenland? Then they might get the same message as a French researcher who was recently sent back to France because he had a mocking text message about Trump on his mobile phone. ... Shouldn't the visit be reason enough for Mette Frederiksen - and the rest of Europe - to stand up to Trump? As well as the appeal by Prime Minister Múte B. Egede to stand with Greenland against a superior force - a formulation that brought back dark memories of the radio address by Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy when Soviet tanks rolled into Budapest in 1956.”