Reference News website, January 21 report: According to the "Netherlands News" website, on January 19, two Dutch officers who were sent to Greenland as part of the NATO joint reconnaissance force are on their way back after completing the mission.

The Dutch Ministry of Defense said that the two were sent to prepare for future joint military exercises among European countries. They have completed the relevant work.

The Dutch Ministry of Defense said in a statement: "In the next phase, preparations will continue in Denmark and the Netherlands."

Last week, Dutch Defense Minister Luukje Brekelmans said that a Royal Netherlands Navy officer would go to Greenland to prepare for a military exercise called "Arctic Resilience" with colleagues from France, Germany, the UK, and Scandinavian countries.

The Netherlands later sent another officer to join the mission and said that a larger NATO operation named "Arctic Sentinel" may follow. The Dutch Ministry of Defense said: "The Dutch officers contributed expertise in operations and logistics."

Before this reconnaissance mission, some European countries issued a joint statement supporting Greenland's status as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

The Netherlands was not one of the signatories of the statement, but the acting Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, said he supported the statement.

Rob Jetten, leader of the 66 Democratic Party in the Netherlands and a possible new prime minister, said these developments show that the "gentle language" used by European leaders to respond to Trump has failed.

Jetten said: "It is unprecedented for a U.S. president to take such measures against his European allies. Europe unanimously stated that this approach is unacceptable, and this statement is a good thing."

Henk Bontenbal, leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal, said that Trump's punitive measures against his NATO allies were "very absurd," and called the European response "wise."

He said: "Europe is not just verbally criticizing, but clearly stating their views and prepared to take strong economic countermeasures." (Translated by Lin Zhaohui)

Original source: toutiao.com/article/7597693376620429862/

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