On Greenland, Trump says no ‘obligation’ to seek peace as Europe braces
Global News
The EU is scheduled to convene a summit to discuss Greenland as U.S. President Donald Trump says he is under 'no obligation' to pursue peace.
Member states of the European Union are gearing up for an emergency summit to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating threats against Greenland later this week as the bloc weighs the use of its “trade bazooka” as well as other options in response.
That comes as Trump linked his aggressive stance on Greenland to last year’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, telling Norway’s prime minister that he no longer felt “an obligation to think purely of Peace,” two European officials said Monday to The Associated Press.
Trump did not rule out the use of force to accomplish his goal of acquiring Greenland, NBC News reported, citing an exclusive telephone interview with the U.S. news outlet in which Trump was asked if he would use force to seize Greenland.
“No comment,” Trump said.
The president indicated the tariffs were retaliation for last week’s deployment of symbolic numbers of troops from European countries to Greenland, which he has said was essential for the “Golden Dome” missile defence system for the U.S.
The escalating rhetoric from Trump has Europe bracing, with members set to meet on Thursday after the weekend saw thousands of people take part in protests against the United States in Denmark and in Greenland’s capital of Nuuk.
“Given the significance of recent developments and in order to further coordinate, I have decided to convene an extraordinary meeting of the European Council in the coming days,” European Council President António Costa said in a statement Sunday.
Trump’s letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was not released publicly but has been widely reported, with U.S. and international media, including the BBC, reporting on it, citing individuals who have seen the letter.
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez, who has been under pressure from the U.S. to fall in line, said oil sales revenue would go to bolster domestic services.
Canada's strained relationship with Iran goes back more than a decade, when a Conservative government under former prime minister Stephen Harper cut diplomatic ties with Tehran.
Billy Long's reported comment came amid Trump's rhetoric about a U.S. takeover of Iceland's neighbour Greenland, as well as his past quips about making Canada the '51st state.'
Denmark's prime minister says the country is standing firm in its commitment to 'prevent' a threatened U.S. takeover of Greenland after a meeting with American leaders.
It was an unexpected finish to a mission that began in August and left the orbiting International Space Station with only one American and two Russians on board.
Troops from several European countries are arriving in Greenland in a show of support for Denmark following an unsuccessful meeting with the United States.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s meeting at the White House comes less than three weeks after Maduro was seized by U.S. forces.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, which is a member of the U.S.-led NATO. Last week, Trump hinted at potential action.
The mission, which comes at the request of Denmark, aims to explore possible military contributions to bolster the security of the region, a German defence ministry statement said.
The U.S. State Department said the move would apply to countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States.
The United States said it was withdrawing some personnel from key bases in the Middle East as a precaution given heightened regional tensions.
A new poll suggests almost a third of Canadians say the United States might attempt "direct action" to take control of Canada, with a fifth of Americans agreeing.
The advisory points to the arrest and detention by Iranian authorities of several individuals 'including foreign and dual nationals.'