Trump's Greenland annexation threats overshadow Ukraine security conference
CBC
The catchphrase going into Tuesday's coalition of the willing meeting on Ukraine in Paris appears to be: expect the unexpected.
That was clearly the vibe as leaders from the 30-or-so countries, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, gathered in the French capital.
While European leaders were trying to square the implications the U.S. military action in Venezuela will have on efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, Carney was dealing with the political fallout of Chrystia Freeland's acceptance of a role advising the Ukrainian government while still a sitting member of Parliament.
The former cabinet minister will be a special, unpaid economic adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She was Canada's envoy to Ukraine for reconstruction but has resigned that position and will quit as an MP in the near future.
But, by far, the capture and planned prosecution of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores under U.S. law was the event that rattled European leaders on the eve of discussing specific security guarantees for Ukraine.
Adding to that unease, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to annex Greenland from Denmark in an interview with The Atlantic. One of his senior advisers, Stephen Miller, refused to rule out the use of military force during an interview with CNN.
"I have to say this very directly to the United States: It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in response on social media.
"Firstly, I believe that the American president should be taken seriously when he says that he wants Greenland. But I also want to make it clear that if the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops. That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War."
Trump told reporters on Air Force One that European leaders know the United States needs to have Greenland.
Going in to Tuesday's meeting, Carney tried to keep the focus on Ukraine and wouldn’t bite when asked if he’s concerned about threats of U.S. military force in Greenland.
“We stand with Denmark, we stand with Greenland," Carney said. "Our closest partnership is with the United States. And we'll work with everybody to make sure that we move forward together.”
A number of other nations, however, have expressed unqualified support for Denmark retaining control of the Arctic territory.
"Denmark is a very close ally of the U.K., both in Europe and in NATO. And it's very important that we're clear about the principles applicable here to Greenland," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said ahead of the meeting. "The Kingdom of Denmark must determine the future of Greenland, and nobody else."
Carney is expected to meet separately with both Frederiksen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of the Ukraine meeting.
