Europe should take a firmer stance against US President Donald Trump's "hostile outbursts" over Greenland, while offering a more open approach that includes economic and security agreements, former Danish Prime Minister and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen wrote on Tuesday.
In an article written for the Economist magazine, Rasmussen highlighted Denmark's longstanding military support for the US and noted: "On 52 occasions between 2002 and 2021, the flag-draped coffins of Denmark's sons and daughters returned home from Afghanistan and Iraq, where those fallen soldiers had given their lives fighting alongside the US."
"Denmark suffered more casualties relative to its population than any other member of the American-led coalition, except Georgia - even more than America itself," he added.
Rasmussen said he had long "admired America."
“As prime minister of Denmark and secretary general of NATO, I considered America the natural leader of the free world. But, in the face of President Donald Trump’s hostile outbursts against one of America’s most loyal allies, I must now conclude that enough is enough.”
Greenland, he argued, poses no threat to the US and is protected by NATO.
"If Russia or China were to seek to land troops in Greenland, they would face the combined might of NATO allies, not just Danish forces."
Under the 1951 US-Denmark security agreement, US forces can increase their presence there, and Rasmussen suggested that economic incentives could be offered.
"If American companies wanted to invest more in Greenland's resources... they would be welcome," he said.
However, he warned that traditional diplomacy may not be enough with Trump. “Mr. Trump would like to annex Greenland because he believes he can do it… He believes that Europe is divided and intransigent, and that when the final moment comes, we will hold fast to our declarations of deep disagreement while giving him what he wants.”
Rasmussen called for a strong European response if the US challenges Greenland's sovereignty.
“If the Trump administration tries to change a sovereign European border, America must face the full force of the EU’s economic ‘bazooka’ – with massive import and export restrictions and the cutting off of American companies from European public procurement.”
He said Europe must act decisively. “We must draw an impassable line in the Greenland snow… We must act swiftly to expand our trade relations… to avoid the danger of Washington’s whims.”
"Then, Europe has a choice. We can either play Trump's power game, or be forced to suffer what we must," Rasmussen wrote.
