Transatlantic relationship: Scholz takes on Trump over Greenland

Almost two weeks before Donald Trump was sworn in as US President, Chancellor Olaf Scholz went on a confrontational course with the Republican for the first time. After Trump’s mind games about territorial expansion of the USA, Scholz reminded him on the open stage of the inviolability of borders. “Borders must not be moved by force,” he said, without specifically mentioning Trump. The principle of inviolability applies to every country, regardless of whether it is in the East or the West.

Trump had repeatedly expressed his desire for Greenland, which is part of the Danish kingdom. He had also recently publicly referred to Canada and described the neighboring country to the north as a possible “51st federal state” of the USA.

Scholz is on the phone with Denmark’s Prime Minister about Greenland

At a press conference on Tuesday in Florida, Trump did not rule out the use of military means with regard to Greenland. Scholz then phoned EU Council President António Costa, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday. He was also in contact with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and French President Emmanuel Macron. The largely ice-covered island of Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and is therefore part of a country that, like the USA and Canada, is a NATO member.

“A certain lack of understanding” about statements from the USA

In a press statement scheduled at short notice, Scholz said that in his discussions with his European partners there was “a certain lack of understanding” about certain statements from the USA. But he didn’t call Trump by name. The principle of the inviolability of borders is at the core of “what we call Western values.” Scholz: “There can and should be no shaking about that.”

Since the US election on November 5th, Scholz had initially avoided making critical statements about the election winner Trump and declared his willingness to cooperate constructively. After his two phone calls with the future US President, he emphasized that he saw a common line, especially in Ukraine policy. Now there is the first trouble between the two.

Harsh tones also came from France towards the USA about Greenland. French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said it was “a form of imperialism.” “More than ever, together with our European partners, we must be aware, overcome a form of naivety, protect and arm ourselves.”

Trump calls for NATO’s five percent target

Scholz did not respond to another sensational statement made by Trump at the press conference in Mar-a-Lago in Florida. The US President also called on NATO allies to spend five percent of gross domestic product on defense in the future. “They can all afford it,” he said.

In 2014, the NATO countries set a goal of investing two percent of GDP in defense. In view of the Russian threat, NATO has been discussing raising the target for a long time, but rather to values ​​between 2.5 and 3.5 percent.

Federal government refers to NATO procedures

Germany reached two percent for the first time last year and, according to the latest NATO statistics from June, is at 2.12 percent. Scholz’s spokesman Steffen Hebestreit reacted cautiously to the demand for five percent. “There is a well-established procedure at NATO level and this procedure is currently underway,” he said. “When the results are available, you look at them politically and then you evaluate them and draw the necessary conclusions.”

This refers to NATO’s ongoing defense planning process, in which the alliance determines what weapon systems, equipment or troops are necessary to ensure defense capability. Hebestreit said they were taking note of Trump’s suggestion and were coordinating closely with their allies. “This will continue with Donald Trump’s administration.”