PARIS — In a significant diplomatic development, France has engaged in discussions with Denmark regarding the potential deployment of troops to Greenland. This conversation arises in the context of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing threats to annex the Danish territory, as noted by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.
During an interview with Sud Radio, Barrot revealed that while France has initiated talks about troop deployment, he acknowledged that it is not aligned with Denmark’s current intentions to move forward with such plans. His statements coincide with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s whirlwind tour across European capitals, aimed at garnering support from allies amidst growing concerns over Trump’s ambitions.
Support from European Allies
The newly inaugurated U.S. president has intensified his focus on Greenland, making it abundantly clear that he has not dismissed the use of military intervention or economic pressure to assert control over the territory. On the same day Barrot spoke, Frederiksen was visiting key leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, and is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.
“If Denmark calls for help, France will be there,” he said. “The European borders are sovereign whether it’s north, south, east and west … nobody can allow themselves to mess around with our borders.”
During a recent meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels, Barrot highlighted the unwavering support expressed by his counterparts for Denmark, emphasizing that they are prepared to consider military assistance if the situation escalates. Nonetheless, he conveyed skepticism regarding the likelihood of a U.S. invasion of Greenland, stating emphatically, “It won’t happen, people don’t invade EU territories.”