Trump’s ‘gangster’ talk on Greenland blasted as ex-NATO chief rages | World | News
Donald Trump has been blasted for using language similar to that of the “gangsters” in Russia and China in his bid to seize Greenland. The outburst comes from a former head of NATO, who warned that if the US President were to successfully conquer Greenland, it could spark “the end of the world order as we know it”.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is also a former Danish Prime Minister, accused Mr Trump of using Greenland “as a weapon of mass distraction from the real threats”, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine. He told the Financial Times the focus on Greenland risked diverting global attention away from the most pressing security crisis facing Europe, warning that Western unity was being weakened at a critical moment. Mr Trump has alarmed European leaders by repeatedly insisting Greenland must come under US control, despite it being an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and a fellow NATO ally. He has also refused to rule out the use of military force. The former alliance chief argued that turning a long-standing ally into a target of public pressure and threats was unprecedented, and could have serious consequences for international stability.
Speaking about Mr Trump’s rhetoric, Mr Rasmussen said: “Now we see the United States use a language that’s pretty close to the gangsters that they should control in Moscow and Beijing.”
“I am actually concerned that the world’s attention is now focused on something that does not represent a threat – namely, Greenland, a friendly ally of the United States – instead of focusing on what should be the focal point right now.
Mr Rasmussen insists the priority for Western leaders should be forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table over Ukraine, rather than escalating tensions with allies.
The comments came as protests were held in Denmark and Greenland over the weekend, with demonstrators voicing opposition to what they described as aggressive American rhetoric towards the Arctic territory.
Mr Rasmussen was Denmark’s prime minister from 2001 to 2009 and sent Danish troops to fight with the US in Afghanistan.
The former NATO chief said his concerns stemmed from a lifetime of believing in America’s leadership of the free world.
“For me, it’s been a painful process,” he said. “Since childhood, I have considered the United States as the natural leader of the free world. I’ve even spoken about the US as the world’s policeman.”
Mr Rasmussen warned the dispute risked weakening NATO at a critical moment, saying divisions between Western allies would only benefit Moscow.
“I’m sure Russia hopes Greenland becomes the iceberg that sinks NATO,” he said. “Conquering Greenland would be the end of the world order as we know it.”
