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  • 7 weeks ago
US intervention in Greenland 'existential threat for NATO' and Europe, Vestager tells Euronews

Former Danish Minister and European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told Euronews' flagship morning show Europe Today that a US intervention in Greenland represents “the most existential threat to NATO” in its history.

READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/01/13/us-intervention-in-greenland-existential-threat-for-nato-and-europe-vestager-tells-euronew

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00:00So lovely to have you here with us in Brussels. I want to urgently ask you many questions about
00:04Greenland, but first your thoughts on Iran. What more can the international community do here?
00:09What more can the EU do? Well, I think the steps that has been taken so far, they are, you know,
00:14the right steps to say that, well, we're here. Just when the women were hitting the streets,
00:20we were there to say, well, we support your cause. And now again, to say, listen, the sanctions,
00:26they will be increased. There will be also external pressure because the cries of the
00:32Iranians on the streets, the deterioration in their living conditions, you know, the courage that they
00:39show, I think that should inspire and impress the rest of the world. And what about President
00:43Donald Trump? His solution is to potentially intervene militarily. Is this something that
00:48you would support? Well, you know, I think that for the Iranians, the solution is not a military
00:53solution. It is, of course, for the President's regime to step down and for democratic forces
00:59to align themselves with a democratic way of ruling the country. Very challenging, indeed. Let's talk
01:07about Greenland and Donald Trump's desire to take Greenland. Could he potentially really do that?
01:13Well, I think even for President Trump, for one native country to attack another native country,
01:19to acquire territory is really, really far reaching. And when you look at the asks of security and
01:27cooperation on minerals, there is, I think, a very open approach from the Greenlandic government and
01:33population and, of course, also from a Danish side. And there's been a longstanding cooperation.
01:38The treaty with the US goes back to 51 as when it comes to security.
01:43And what role should the European Union be playing here? What should the Europeans be doing?
01:47Well, Europe has increased its interest for Greenland over the last 10 years. Now,
01:54there is a representation of the European Commission in Greenland. I think that's really
01:59important. There is a memorandum of understanding when it comes to the exploration of critical minerals
02:04and rare earth and what have you. So even though Greenland is not part of the European Union,
02:10well, it's a relationship that can be increased. And the first steps they have been taken in previous
02:15years. Well, some previous politicians are today calling for them to be a member that Brussels
02:20should invite them back in. They did reverse their membership back.
02:23Well, I think I think so many decisions are for the Greenland people for them to take. It's their
02:28country. They don't seem to be at all in any kind of mindset to sell their country. If they ever want
02:35to join the European Union again, it's for them to start that discussion.
02:39But if Trump did move in, could that be the end of NATO, as some are saying?
02:43Well, I think that is that is almost I know that President Trump says that he's not reigned in by
02:50anything but his own morals. But even for that, to do that for one NATO country to attack another
02:57NATO country for territory, that would be, I think, the most existential threats to NATO that we have seen.
03:03And also, you know, Denmark was one of the countries who answered the call from the US.
03:09The only time that Article 5 have been triggered was when US did that. And Denmark fought and, of course,
03:17lost lives and soldiers in that operation.
03:20And with all this talk about Greenland, one would almost forget the big spat between Brussels and
03:24Washington, D.C. over tech groups. Who's standing up to Donald Trump here?
03:27Well, I think the important thing is to say, listen, we have realized our dependencies,
03:34gas on Russia, critical minerals on China, security on the US, and also technology on the US.
03:40So, of course, it's about time for Europe to say, listen, we will enforce our rules for our market
03:45to be open and contestable. We will look for European suppliers, because there is a European demand.
03:52And of course, we want to live a life that is not, you know, 100% digitally dependent,
03:56because the society is about the relationship between people.
03:59And what about something that's a big concern for our viewers, that Grok's AI tool that's
04:03manipulating image of women and girls? What can the EU do here? We saw a very late response
04:08yesterday from the commissioner.
04:09Well, I think it's really important to be tough on this one, because you have this wicked
04:14combination of nudity and humiliating women. And basically, any woman could be, you know,
04:22a victim of this. So, I think it's really important to stand up for it, both as people,
04:27but of course, also win the enforcement with the commission.
04:29Okay. Margaret Tavish, thank you so much for joining us and for sharing your insights
04:33on a number of stories. Thank you.
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