French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot warned Donald Trump on Monday not to threaten the European Union’s “sovereign borders” after the US president-elect refused to rule out military action to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark’s EU membership.
“The European Union will not allow other nations to invade its sovereign borders,” the French foreign minister said, responding to Trump’s comments about the takeover of Greenland.
Trump on Monday refused to rule out military or economic action as part of his explicit desire for the US to take control of Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he did not believe the US would attack the large Arctic island that has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years.
“Of course, there is no question that the European Union would allow other nations of the world to invade its sovereign borders, whoever they are. We are a strong continent,” the minister told France Inter radio.
Trump’s comments further underscored his expansionist agenda, two weeks before he is sworn in for his inauguration on January 20 in Washington.
“If you ask me if I think the United States will invade Greenland, my answer is no. But if we have entered a period of survival of the fittest, then my answer is yes,” Barrot said.
