France has requested the organization of a NATO exercise in Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and has declared itself ready to contribute to it, announced the office of President Emmanuel Macron on January 21, according to Reuters.
The announcement regarding this request comes as US President Donald Trump was heading, on January 21, to the Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from whose podium he will address in an attempt to intensify his efforts to acquire Greenland, despite European protests, in the greatest deterioration of transatlantic relations in recent decades.
Speaking a day earlier in Davos, Emmanuel Macron stated that Europe “will not give in to bullies and will not be intimidated” in a scathing criticism of Trump’s threat to impose additional customs tariffs, if Europe does not let him take control over Greenland, cites Agerpres.
NATO leaders have warned that Trump’s strategy regarding Greenland could destroy the North Atlantic Alliance. Trump has linked Greenland to his fury for not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
In the context of the American president’s threat of annexing this Arctic island, about 15 French soldiers were sent last week to Greenland for a three-day “Arctic Endurance” reconnaissance mission, at the initiative of Denmark.
RTL revealed last week that the French soldiers sent to Greenland were mountain hunters from the Mountain Infantry Brigade (BIM) in Grenoble.
With this new exercise, France wishes to invite all NATO members to join the states already present on the island by sending additional soldiers to participate in a simulation of an American invasion, notes RTL.
It is a way to show that France takes the threats very seriously and does not intend to back down after the latest attacks by Donald Trump, according to the quoted television station.
Trump insists on Greenland’s important position in US security
US President Donald Trump insists that Greenland occupies a “very important” position for national security and the international security of the US, highlighting the strategic value of the island in the context of global defense, reports EFE.
During an exclusive interview granted to the conservative television station NewsNation, Trump argued that Greenland’s location is essential for addressing potential military threats and correlated it with the defense plans of his administration.
“It is located in a very important place for our national security and also for the security of the world, literally”, Trump reiterated.
As an example, the American president mentioned the development of the defensive system known as the Golden Dome, which, he said, would allow the interception of missile attacks.
“If someone wants to launch missiles, we will knock them down like toothpicks”, added the Republican.
During a press conference, held on January 20 at the White House, when asked about polls in Greenland, where the vast majority of the population does not agree that the island should be part of the US, Trump expressed his conviction that the Greenlanders will support his project as soon as he discusses with the island authorities.