Holiday Ayo - European leaders expressed solidarity with Denmark following US President Donald Trump's recent statement that he was determined to incorporate Greenland into US territory, citing national security interests. 

The statement came exactly one year after Trump first expressed a similar intention, as reported by Euronews on Tuesday (December 23). 

Trump even appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as the US special envoy to Greenland. This move was seen as a sign of the US's seriousness in incorporating Greenland into US territory. 

The US President also reiterated that Washington needs Greenland not for its natural resources, but for national security interests. 

This rekindled concerns in Europe regarding Washington's expansionist ambitions towards the autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. 

Trump's statement and move were immediately taken seriously by EU heads of state and government.

They appeared united in the face of US pressure on European territorial sovereignty. 

French President Emmanuel Macron and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot publicly reiterated their support for Denmark's territorial integrity.

"Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark acts as its guarantor. I join the voices of other European citizens in expressing full solidarity," said Macron and Barrot. 

Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed the basic principles of international law. 

Von der Leyen emphasized that territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed a similar stance, emphasizing the importance of respecting national sovereignty in the global order. 

“Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is paramount for the European Union and all countries in the world," Sanchez wrote on his X account. 

He also stated that security in the Arctic region remains a shared priority, with a cooperative approach with allies and international partners. 

The US and Denmark are both members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), an alliance that guarantees collective defense in the event of aggression by one of its members.