Davos/Brussels, Jan 20 (EFE).- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the European Union’s response to what she described as annexationist pressure on Greenland from US President Donald Trump will be “firm, united and proportionate.”
“We consider the people of the United States not just our allies, but our friends. And plunging us into a dangerous downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of our strategic landscape,” von der Leyen said in her address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
“So our response will be unflinching, united and proportional. But beyond this, we have to be strategic about how we approach this issue.”
She said Europe is “fully committed” to the security of the Arctic region and shares the US objectives, which she said can only be achieved jointly.
Referring to Trump’s announcement that Washington would impose an additional 10 percent tariff on European countries conducting military maneuvers in Greenland, the German Christian Democrat said such measures were “a mistake especially between long-standing allies.”
The EU and US have agreed to a trade deal last July. And in politics as in business – a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something,” she added, referring to the agreement under which EU-produced goods are subject to a general 15 percent tariff in the US.
Von der Leyen said current tensions can be overcome through dialogue, but underlined that the EU holds firm “principles” on the issue.
“First principle: full solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Greenland and Denmark are non-negotiable,” she
“Second, we are working on a massive European investment surge in Greenland. We will work with Greenland and Denmark hand in hand to see how we can further support the local economy and infrastructure.”
She said Brussels would work “with the US and all partners on wider Arctic security.”
This is clearly in our shared interest, and we will step up our investment,” she said.
“In particular, I believe we should use our defense spending surge on a European icebreaker capability and other equipment vital to Arctic security.”
The EU commission president added that all regional partners must contribute to strengthening collective security and said the EU will examine how to reinforce partnerships with the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Iceland, and others.
Later this year, the European Commission will present an updated Arctic security strategy, von der Leyen said.“And at the heart of this will be the fundamental principle: It is for sovereign people to decide their own future,” she stressed before the influential annual forum in Switzerland, where she outlined the European Commission’s policy priorities.
“Europe must speed up its push for independence – from security to economy, from defence to democracy. The point is that the world has changed permanently. We need to change with it,” she said. EFE
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