Italy's Meloni Doesn’t Believe Trump Will Use Force To Seize Greenland, Says Won't Ba
Italy's Meloni Doesn’t Believe Trump Will Use Force To Seize Greenland, Says Won't Back Such A Move
M.U.H
11/01/202628
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday said she does not believe the United States would use military force to seize Greenland, warning that any such move would have grave consequences for NATO.
Speaking at her traditional New Year’s press conference, Meloni said strengthening NATO’s presence in the Arctic could help address US concerns about rival powers expanding their influence in the region, thereby reducing pressure on Washington to act unilaterally. “I continue not to believe in the hypothesis that the United States would launch a military action to take control of Greenland, an option I would clearly not support," she said, despite being regarded as one of US President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Europe.
Her remarks come amid renewed unease over US policy in the Arctic and Europe’s role in shaping regional security, following last weekend’s US military operation in Venezuela that reignited concerns over Trump’s intentions towards Greenland. While many European Union leaders criticised Washington for seizing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Meloni said she supported the operation. “I agreed with Trump on Venezuela. I do not agree with him on Greenland," she said, adding that a US takeover of the vast, strategically located territory would not be in anyone’s interest, including America’s.
The White House said earlier this week that the US was considering a range of options to acquire Greenland, including the possible use of military force. Meloni said it was “clear to everyone" that any such move would have a significant impact on NATO, and that this was precisely why she doubted Washington would ultimately follow through on the threat. However, she stressed the importance of NATO boosting its presence in the Arctic, saying she understood US concerns about preventing “excessive interference from other actors that could even be hostile."
Meloni, who was the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration last year, said she has never hesitated to voice her disagreements with him. “There are many things on which I do not agree with Trump. For example, I believe international law must be strongly defended. When I disagree, I tell him I have no difficulty doing so," she said.
