Trump Greenland comments: EU will not tolerate attacks on its borders, Germany France say

The European Union will not let other nations attack its sovereign borders, France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday, responding to comments by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on taking over Greenland.

Trump declined on Monday to rule out military or economic action as part of his avowed desire to have the U.S. take control of Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he did not believe the U.S. would invade the vast Arctic island that has been part of Denmark for over 600 years.

“There is obviously no question that the European Union would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders, whoever they are,” he told France Inter radio. “We are a strong continent.”

Trump’s comments further outlined an expansionist agenda, two weeks before he is sworn into office at the Jan. 20 inauguration in Washington.

“If you’re asking me whether I think the United States will invade Greenland, my answer is no. But have we entered into a period of time when it is survival of the fittest? Then my answer is yes,” Barrot said.

He said the EU should not let itself be intimidated or be overly concerned, but should wake up and strengthen.

Germany has taken note of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s statements about Greenland and Canada, and stands by the international principle that borders must not be moved by force, said a government spokesperson on Wednesday.

“As always, the honourable principle of the United Nations Charter and the Helsinki Accords applies, namely that borders must not be moved by force,” said a spokesperson at a regular news conference.

The spokesperson declined to comment when asked about how seriously Germany was taking Trump’s statements.

Trump refused on Tuesday to rule out using military or economic action to pursue an acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland and also floated the idea of turning Canada into a U.S. state.