French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Wednesday that any violation of Greenland’s sovereignty would lead to “unprecedented cascading consequences,” amid renewed statements by the US about taking control of the Arctic island, Anadolu Ajansı reported.
Macron made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting, according to government spokesperson Maud Bregeon, as Washington has repeatedly expressed its intention to acquire the autonomous Danish territory.
“We do not underestimate the statements on Greenland. If the sovereignty of a European and allied country were affected, the cascading consequences would be unprecedented,” Bregeon quoted Macron as saying.
She added that France is following the situation “with the greatest attention” and would act “in full solidarity with Denmark and its sovereignty.”
According to French news broadcaster BFMTV, Macron spoke with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen last week, while his office said Paris is also holding discussions with Germany and the UK on “the situation and the various options."
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu also said that US President Donald Trump’s intentions regarding Greenland must be taken “very seriously,” warning against underestimating Washington’s stance on the strategic territory.
Speaking before members of parliament, Lecornu said the position of the Trump administration should not be dismissed.
“The intentions of the Trump administration are serious and must now be taken very seriously,” he said. “We absolutely must not underestimate the word of the American president.”
He expressed France’s “full solidarity” with Denmark and the “legitimate authorities of Greenland.”
“France also has overseas territories. We absolutely do not want to see the sovereignty of other territories called into question, because we would not accept any questioning of French sovereignty over our own territories,” he said.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged Washington to “stop blackmailing” Denmark over Greenland, saying he did not believe a US military intervention was likely and that “nothing could justify it.”
Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has attracted US interest due to its strategic location and vast mineral resources.
Denmark and Greenland have rejected proposals to sell the territory, reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the island.
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