That the president of the United States, Donald Trump, is seriously with his international threats, was clear after the pulse he maintained – and won – with Colombia this Sunday, when Gustavo Petro’s government had to yield and accept the citizens deported from territory from territory American to avoid the imposition of tariffs up to 25% to their products. In Europe, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, started a tour of key capitals of Europe that smells of prevention before the apparent impossibility of curbing the eagerness of the Republican leader for taking Greenland, under Danish domain.
Despite the moderation shown so far by the EU to respond to the new White House tenant, Brussels claims to be aligned with Copenhagen and with “whatever you decide” to deal with Washington. Of course, Denmark is the one that marks the rhythm, according to high sources of the EU. And the step has accelerated.
Frederiksen visits Berlin and Paris on Tuesday, on a lightning trip that will end in Brussels, where he will meet behind closed doors with NATO general, Mark Rutte.
“Denmark is a small country with strong alliances,” Frederiksen said on Monday when announcing his tour. “And it is part of a strong European community, where together we can face the challenges we face,” he added, appealing to the European Unity, although not to mention the challenge that Trump is supposed to mean by Greenland. But that this territory is in the minds of the Danish government was clear on Monday after the announcement of the Minister of Defense, Troels Lund Poulen, of an investment of almost 2,000 million euros to reinforce its military presence in the Arctic.
“We have to face the fact that the Arctic and the North Atlantic face serious challenges in terms of security and defense and that is why we have to strengthen our presence in the region,” said Minister Poulen announcing the agreement. The Danish government provides for the approval of a second package this year with the objective, among others, to improve the surveillance and capacity of the country to “maintain sovereignty in the region,” according to the Danish Ministry of Defense.
In Berlin, at the first stop of his trip, Frederiksen has been received on Tuesday by German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz. Without explicitly citing the threat of USA to Denmark, Scholz has defended the “inviolability” of borders as “fundamental principle of international law.” “The borders cannot be allowed to travel by force,” he said. And without citing Trump, but speaking now in English, he added that the message was directed “to whom it may concern”(Whoever corresponds), informs Marc Bassets.
For its part, Frederiksen has also avoided mentioning Greenland and Trump’s threat. But he pointed out that Europeans face “uncertain realities” that force them to join and collaborate. “It corresponds to Europe now to define the future of the continent,” said Danish Prime Minister.