LOC19:00
16:00 GMT
Report by Asmaa Reidan
BRUSSELS, Jan 22 (KUNA) -- Leaders of the 27 European Union member states are set to hold an emergency summit in Brussels Thursday evening to discuss the escalating crisis over Greenland, amid unprecedented tensions in European-US relations following renewed remarks by US President Donald Trump expressing a desire to annex the island.
Although Europeans welcomed Trump's announcement at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he would not use military force to annex Greenland and his retreat from imposing new tariffs on several European countries, concerns persist as he has not abandoned his ambition to acquire the Danish autonomous territory.
In a notable development, Trump announced what he described as a "framework for a future deal" with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Greenland, contributing to a relative easing of transatlantic tensions in recent days, though he did not clarify the nature of the agreement or whether it involves US control of the island.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen refrained from commenting on the substance of the agreement, saying only that Trump's statements on halting a trade war and not attacking Greenland were positive messages.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, however, stressed the need to respect Denmark's territorial integrity, affirming her willingness to continue constructive dialogue with allies on Arctic security, while underscoring that sovereignty is non-negotiable.
For his part, NATO Secretary General Rutte said discussions with Trump aim primarily to prevent Russia and China from expanding their influence in Greenland, noting that Arctic security has become a key strategic issue requiring close coordination among NATO, the EU and the United States.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, European-US relations are experiencing one of their most serious crises since World War II, amid fears that any US attempt to control Greenland would constitute a direct violation of European sovereignty and a blow to the transatlantic strategic partnership.
Europe, however, faces a dilemma due to its deep reliance on the United States in security and economic fields, limiting its ability to respond to any escalation.
NATO estimates indicate that the United States accounts for more than 60 percent of total alliance defense spending, with the remaining 31 members contributing less than 40 percent, a disparity European officials view as unsustainable.
In this context, Rutte stressed that talk of establishing an independent European defense system in the near term is a "political illusion," noting that building a credible European deterrent could take 15 to 20 years and require defense spending of 8 to 10 percent of GDP.
European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius called for the creation of a permanent European force of 100,000 troops as the nucleus of European defense should the US role decline, alongside proposals for a European pillar within NATO with a unified command structure.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares reiterated his country's call for a joint European army, stressing the need to consolidate Europe's defense industrial capabilities, while French President Emmanuel Macron urged activation of the EU's Anti-Coercion Instrument adopted in 2023 to protect member states from external economic pressure.
European circles conclude that the Greenland crisis has evolved beyond a limited geographic or political dispute into a real test of the future of the transatlantic partnership and Europe's ability to achieve greater strategic autonomy in an increasingly polarized world. (end)
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