EU has 'strategic responsibility' in Greenland: France

Riga: The European Union has a strategic responsibility in Greenland, French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot said Thursday, after President Donald...

Riga: The European Union has "a strategic responsibility" in Greenland, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Thursday, after President Donald Trump insisted Washington needed the autonomous Danish territory for security reasons.

Barrot spoke after Denmark said the United States still aimed to take control of the mineral-rich Arctic island.

"Arctic security is inseparable from... European security," Barrot said.

"We stand in support and solidarity with Denmark, just as we would hope to be able to count on Denmark's support and solidarity if we found ourselves in the same situation today".

Greenland "is a European territory that is placed under NATO protection," Barrot said, adding: "NATO, NATO's allies, European countries are fully capable of defending their territory against any threats, wherever they may come from".