Will Donald Trump’s threats to Greenland help bring China and Europe closer together?
The US president has said control of the Danish territory is a national security issue, causing increased alarm among Copenhagen’s allies
On Sunday, the US president said he needed Greenland “right now” for national security reasons because there were “Russian and Chinese ships all over the place”.
Beijing has condemned the comments and urged Washington to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter. Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian also called on the US to “stop using the so-called China threat as a pretext to pursue its own interests”.
Greenland’s strategic importance lies in its position between Russia and the United States, while it also hosts large amounts of natural gas and minerals.
The melting of polar ice as a result of climate change is also opening up potentially lucrative sea routes through the Arctic that could significantly cut travel time between continents.