What does Donald Trump’s threat to seize Greenland mean for the EU and NATO?

The US president-elect has refused to rule out an attack on Greenland, a Danish self-governing island and NATO ally.

Transcript

00:00What do Donald Trump's threats to seize Greenland mean for Europe?

00:08Donald Trump has refused to rule out using military force to seize control of Greenland,

00:14a self-governing territory belonging to an EU member state, Denmark.

00:19Greenland is the world's biggest island and home to around 57,000 people.

00:24It has been part of Denmark since 1953 and an autonomous territory since 1979.

00:30While it's not part of the European Union, it does benefit from EU funding

00:34and Greenlanders are considered EU citizens.

00:37It is also part of the NATO alliance.

00:40The island is considered strategically important due to its position in the Arctic,

00:45where ice decline could soon allow more opportunities to drill for oil,

00:49mine for raw materials and open up more efficient shipping routes.

00:53US rivals such as Russia and China are tussling for power in the region.

00:58But Trump is now threatening to use military force against another NATO member state, Denmark,

01:04which it is technically obliged to protect under the North Atlantic Treaty.

01:09He's also expressed readiness to slap sanctions on Denmark if it doesn't cede control of the territory.

01:15European leaders have warned Trump against his threats.

01:19The principle of non-violence of borders applies to every country,

01:23regardless of whether it is in the east or in the west.

01:26Every state must abide by it, regardless of whether it is a small country or a very powerful state.

01:32It's an unwanted escalation two weeks before Trump is due to be sworn into the White House.

01:38Fears are already high in Europe that Trump will undermine NATO unity and sanction EU trade.

01:45But it also raises questions about Greenland's future as calls for independence from Denmark gain traction,

01:52a move which could further undermine the EU's strategic presence in the Arctic.