French President Emmanuel Macron says the Greenland standoff is a strategic wake-up call for Europe, urging greater sovereignty and defence cooperation.
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has described a recent standoff with the United States over Greenland as a strategic wake-up call for all of Europe.
He made the remarks alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen in Paris.
Macron said the awakening must focus on asserting European sovereignty and contributing to Arctic security.
He reaffirmed France’s solidarity and commitment to Denmark and Greenland’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“France will continue to defend these principles in accordance with the United Nations Charter,” he added.
Macron also expressed support for increased NATO engagement in the Arctic region.
His comments follow US President Donald Trump’s threat to seize Greenland, which roiled the transatlantic alliance before he backed down.
Speaking earlier at Sciences Po university, Frederiksen said Europe must improve its defences now to become less reliant on the US.
She conceded it would be extremely difficult for Europe to defend itself currently due to dependencies on US intelligence and nuclear weapons.
“But I think we’re able to do more than what is being said publicly right now,” Frederiksen stated.
She criticised a 2035 target to ramp up NATO spending, saying it would be too late.
“I think rearming ourselves now is the most important thing,” the Danish leader added.
Frederiksen said Europe had made a big mistake by cutting military budgets in the past.
NATO members committed last year to raising defence spending to 5% of economic output, following an earlier 2% target.
