Threats from US do not enhance security in Arctic region – Metsola
The European Union supports Denmark's sovereignty and the people of Greenland, and threats from the United States do not contribute to dialogue or to improving security in the Arctic.
The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola on Monday as she opened the session in Strasbourg, a Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"The European Union supports Denmark and the people of Greenland. We do so united in resolve," she said.
According to her, the measures threatened by the United States administration over the weekend will not help improve security in the Arctic and could have the opposite effect.
"Greenland and Denmark have both made clear: Greenland is not for sale and its sovereignty and territorial integrity needs to be respected," she stressed, prompting prolonged applause from Members of the European Parliament.
Metsola said that Europe continues to believe in good transatlantic relations and in partnership with the United States.
Metsola noted that Europe understood the need to take on greater responsibility in defense and security, including doing more to protect the Arctic, which was why defense measures had been strengthened and defense spending increased. She emphasized that transatlantic and Arctic security could be ensured without destabilizing actions that questioned the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark or through threats such as tariffs.
She added that Europe would always remain open to continuing dialogue in a spirit of mutual respect and would follow a path of calm, restraint, and dialogue.
She also said that Europe would always stand by its chosen path, would defend it rationally, confidently, and consistently, and would not apologize for doing so.
Debates on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark are scheduled to take place in the European Parliament on Tuesday, January 20.
As reported, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Monday that the island would not give in to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose tariffs.
Photo: European Union