The European Commission has downplayed the likelihood of any aggressive moves by US President-elect Donald Trump to absorb Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Brussels underscored the necessity of respecting the sovereignty of EU member states, marking the latest diplomatic response to Trump’s controversial remarks on territorial expansion.

During a press conference on January 7, Trump stirred controversy by refusing to rule out the use of military force to bring Greenland under American control. “It might be that you will have to do something… We need Greenland for national security purposes,” he declared, doubling down on his earlier interest in the resource-rich Arctic territory. In the same breath, Trump also hinted at ambitions to control the Panama Canal, another strategic global chokepoint.

Later that day, Paula Pinho, the European Commission’s chief spokesperson, addressed the remarks, describing them as “highly speculative.” Pinho stated, “There are many threats that do not materialize, and at this stage, we do not believe it is necessary to go beyond this.”

Despite her attempt to downplay the scenario, Pinho confirmed that any military attack on Greenland would trigger the EU’s mutual defense assistance clause under Article 42(7) of the bloc’s treaty. However, she reiterated that the issue remained hypothetical, remarking, “We are discussing a highly theoretical issue.”

Anitta Hipper, the European Commission’s foreign affairs spokesperson, also weighed........

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