【By Observer News, Qi Qian】

U.S. President Trump has set his sights on Greenland, and Denmark warns that NATO is in peril.

However, facing the concerns of member states, NATO Secretary General and former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has tried to downplay the situation, insisting that NATO is not in crisis.

According to Reuters and Politico EU, on January 12, Rutte stated that NATO members are discussing next steps for collective action to ensure Arctic security, in an effort to address Trump's concerns about Arctic shipping routes.

Rutte said at a press conference in Croatia: "All allies agree on the importance of the Arctic and Arctic security."

He then echoed Trump, hyping up the so-called "China and Russia threat". He claimed that as Arctic sea routes open up in the future, "Russia and China may become more active in this region, posing risks."

Rutte said that discussions have been ongoing since last year, and now member states are "discussing how to follow up effectively."

Mark Rutte has long been controversial for his sycophantic behavior towards Trump. At last June's NATO summit, Rutte caused public shock with his "fatherly" remarks. At that time, Trump revealed in a press conference that Rutte had privately told him, "You are my father."

On January 12, Mark Rutte visited Croatia Social Media

Another European diplomat told Reuters that discussions are currently underway about possible NATO actions to strengthen Arctic security, with officials seeking ways to address American security concerns. They said no decision has been made yet, but some officials have suggested that the action could emulate NATO's efforts to bolster security on its eastern flank, such as "Baltic Air Policing" and "Enhanced Forward Presence."

On the same day, a German government spokesperson said that NATO is currently discussing further measures to enhance security in the Arctic region.

On January 12, Andrius Kubilius, the EU Commissioner for Defense and Space, pointed out at a security conference in Sweden that if the U.S. takes military control of Greenland, it would mean the end of NATO. He said, "I agree with the view of the Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen, this would be the end of NATO, and the public would also have a very, very negative view of it."

Politico EU noted that this statement contrasts sharply with Mark Rutte's recent comments, and is the first time a senior EU official has publicly supported Frederiksen's position, although some EU diplomats have privately supported her.

In recent days, the Trump administration's ambition to annex Greenland has been unmistakable, intensifying tensions between the U.S. and NATO allies.

Last week, Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen warned that people must "take seriously" Trump's threats against Greenland. If the U.S. launches a military attack on another NATO country, the post-war order and NATO itself would come to an end.

Trump walked past Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen during the NATO summit Visual China

But Trump dismissed the warnings from his allies. Earlier, when interviewed by the New York Times, he again threatened that "ownership of Greenland is very important to the United States." "I think ownership can give you some unique things that you cannot get through leasing, treaties or signing documents."

When asked which was more important - acquiring Greenland or maintaining NATO - Trump did not answer directly, but admitted that he might have to make a choice between the two.

Trump had eyed Greenland during his first term in office. U.S. media analysis suggests that as global powers seek to expand their influence and presence in the Arctic, mineral-rich Greenland has become a target due to its strategic value for security and trade. There is a large U.S. airbase on Greenland, which is significant for the U.S. military.

Since taking office in January last year, Trump has repeatedly claimed that "there are Chinese and Russian ships everywhere" around Greenland. Denmark has disputed this.

Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen previously responded by saying that Trump's depiction was "not correct." He also said, "We do not agree with the idea that there are a lot of Chinese investments in Greenland," because that is not the case.

Reuters also mentioned that ship tracking data from MarineTraffic and LSEG show that there are no Chinese or Russian ships near Greenland.

According to the Financial Times, several Nordic diplomats have refuted Trump's claims about Chinese and Russian ships. They said that NATO has not found any signs of Russian or Chinese ships or submarines operating near Greenland in recent years, and that Trump's statements were "completely inconsistent with the facts."

On January 11, Rasmus Jørgensen, chairman of the Danish Parliament's Defense Committee, said he had all the information, and said, "I can assure you that your fantasy of China and Russia posing a huge threat to Greenland is pure nonsense."

On January 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning held a regular press conference. Mao reiterated that the Arctic involves the overall interests of the international community, and China's activities in the Arctic aim to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Arctic, in line with international law. The rights and freedoms of countries to conduct activities in the Arctic according to law should be fully respected, and the U.S. should not pursue self-interest and use other countries as an excuse.

This article is exclusive to Observer News and may not be reprinted without permission.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7594638737498259983/

Statement: The views expressed in this article are those of the author.