FILE PHOTO: A man walks as Danish flag flutters next to Hans Egede Statue ahead of a March 11 general election in Nuuk, Greenland, March 9, 2025. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo
Alain Berset, secretary general of the Council of Europe, wrote a column in the New York Times in which he stated he never thought he would have to contend with a possible military confrontation between Europe and the United States.
Trump sent a letter to the prime minister of Norway overnight, claiming he no longer feels obligated to support peace in Europe because he did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel committee awards the prize, not Norway. Additionally, Greenland is part of Denmark, not Norway.
"His statements about the territory have strained relations between states and called into question the rights, consent and democratic choices of Greenland's people," wrote Berset. "For now, this remains talk. But recent events in Venezuela show how quickly words can harden into action."
Berset recalled that following World War II, the Council of Europe was established to ensure "law, not raw power, must guarantee the dignity and rights of individuals and the sovereign equality of states."
Berset noted that while Trump has claimed he needs Greenland for national security, the United States already has access for such efforts.
Berset described Trump's position as reflecting "an old strategic reflex: a Cold War mind-set." Trump believes that Russia's proximity to Greenland could present a security threat.
"The Council of Europe stands ready to support Denmark and Greenland through concrete legal and institutional cooperation. If Europe fails to articulate a legal and political vision, others will fill the vacuum, shifting security from law to strategic leverage," Berset wrote.
"International law is either universal or meaningless. Greenland will show which one we choose," Berset stated.