German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Monday said that Greenland belonged to Denmark, stressing that the NATO’s alliance could discuss strengthening its protection if necessary.
Wadephul stated this after US President Donald Trump made renewed threats to take over Greenland, a prospect that alarmed NATO allies and has taken on a new urgency after Trump followed through on threats to topple Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro.
Recall that Trump has repeatedly said he wants to take over Greenland, an ambition first voiced in 2019 during his first presidency.
Reawakening the move on Sunday, Trump told The Atlantic magazine in an interview: “We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.”
Addressing reporters in Lithuania, Wadephul, however, said Germany had questions about Maduro’s removal, stressing the Venezuelan people should determine their country’s future in free and fair elections, after Trump said the US would run the country.
On Greenland, Wadephul stressed it was part of Denmark.
“And since Denmark is a member of NATO, Greenland will, in principle, also be subject to NATO defence,” he said.
