France to Open Consulate in Greenland, French Foreign Minister Says US Must Stop "Coercion"

French Foreign Minister Barro said on Wednesday that if the goal of seizing Greenland was not through purchase, but through any other means, it would be very unreasonable... and even contrary to the interests of the United States.

French Foreign Minister Barro announced on Wednesday that France will open a consulate in Greenland on February 6. He called the move "a political signal" because President Trump of the United States has long coveted this Danish self-governing territory.

Barro said in the morning on RTL radio in France that the decision to open a consulate in Greenland was made during President Macron's visit to the island last summer. He also said, "I myself also went to Greenland at the end of August last year to prepare for the opening of the consulate on February 6."

He also said, "This is a political signal, reflecting France's desire to have a stronger influence in Greenland, including in the scientific field." He finally emphasized: "Greenland will not be sold."

French Foreign Minister Barro said, "If the goal of seizing Greenland is not through purchase, but through any other means, it would certainly be very unreasonable, as attacking another NATO member country is meaningless for a NATO member country; it is even against the interests of the United States."

He added, "This kind of 'coercion' must stop immediately." And he said, "Greenland does not want to be owned, ruled or annexed by the United States." He said, "Greenland has chosen Denmark, NATO and the EU."

At the time when the French foreign minister made these remarks, the foreign minister of Greenland, Vivian Motzfeldt, and the Danish foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, had arrived in Washington, preparing to hold high-risk talks with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio and Vice President Vance to resolve the crisis surrounding Greenland.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1854300301077706/

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