Khaberni - Geopolitical tensions between the United States and its European allies are increasing, at a time when sources revealed to Reuters that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is exploring a mechanism to implement a "potential purchase" of the island of Greenland, which belongs to Denmark.
These plans coincided with a stern warning issued by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who urged Europeans to take the security of the island "seriously".
Vance stated that the security of Greenland is a top priority for Washington, warning that "the Europeans' failure to take this matter seriously will compel the United States to take unilateral action on it".
He mentioned that U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio will meet with leaders from Denmark and Greenland next week.
Financial Temptations
Four informed sources told Reuters that US officials - including White House officials - discussed offering direct financial amounts to the people of Greenland ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 dollars per person, in an attempt to persuade them to separate from Denmark.
The sources indicated that these payments could total about six billion dollars, as a practical mechanism to "purchase" the island, home to about 57,000 people.
The idea of direct payments to the people of Greenland - a territory of Denmark - offers one explanation on how the United States is attempting to "purchase" the island, despite insistence by authorities in Copenhagen and on the island that Greenland is not for sale.
White House spokesperson Carolayne Levit acknowledged that Trump and his aides are actually studying the "implementation mechanism", amid the administration's insistence that Greenland has "significant strategic importance" from a national security perspective.
In response, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen firmly stated on Facebook: "Enough... No more annexation fantasies", affirming that the island is not for sale.
"Venezuela Momentum"
President Donald Trump justifies his desire to acquire the island as it is rich in minerals needed for advanced military applications, believing that Denmark will not be able to meet its security needs.
The sources told the agency that discussions about annexing the island increased after the success of the U.S. government in capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a bold operation, where White House officials were keen to leverage this "momentum" to achieve Trump's long-term geopolitical goals.
While officials preferred diplomatic channels, the White House stated that "military intervention is possible" to ensure these strategic goals.
"Colonial Aggressiveness"
The American stance has sparked angry reactions in the old continent, where French President Emmanuel Macron expressed regret that the United States is "gradually abandoning" its allies and "ignoring international rules", speaking of a growing "new colonial aggressiveness".
Macron added that the world is experiencing a conflict of major powers that truly desire to "share the world among themselves".
The spokesperson for the British government said that Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his support for Denmark regarding Greenland, during a phone call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen yesterday, Thursday.
Meanwhile, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, described the American messages about Greenland as "very worrying", confirming that the Union discussed how the European response would be if the threat were real.
Major countries including France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Spain, and Poland issued a joint statement confirming that only Greenland and Denmark have the right to decide on their relationship issues.
Greenland is the largest island in the world and is located in a pivotal position in the Arctic, which is increasing in strategic importance with the melting ice and the opening of new trade routes due to climate change.
Greenland - one of the two autonomous territories in the Kingdom of Denmark, alongside the Faroe Islands - is located more than 2900 kilometers from Denmark.
