Greenland wants NATO to take charge of its defense

On Monday, the Greenlandic government announced that it would increase its efforts to ensure that the defense of the Arctic territory would be carried out under NATO auspices. At the same time, the cabinet once again rejected US President Donald Trump's ambition to take control of the island.

Trump said the US must own Greenland, an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, to prevent Russia or China from occupying this strategically located and mineral-rich territory in the future.

"All NATO member states, including the United States, have a common interest in defending Greenland," the island's coalition government said in a statement.

European Union Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius warned on Monday that a US military occupation of Greenland would spell the end of the North Atlantic Alliance. He also pointed out that European Union member states have an obligation to help Denmark if it faces military aggression.

(reuters, max)