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By Matthew Impelli
Life & Trends Reporter
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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized Wednesday that the inviolability of national borders is a universal principle, regardless of a country's power.
Scholz also hinted at European leaders' "incomprehension" over recent expansionist remarks by President-elect Donald Trump.
Why It Matters
Trump has expressed renewed interest in the U.S. taking control of Greenland, going so far as to refusing to rule out military intervention.
Read More on World
Trump recently told a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate he could not rule out military or economic coercion to take Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal. The visit to Greenland on Monday by Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr, added to speculation about his intentions.
The U.S. maintains Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, a territory rich in natural resources which is also is in a strategic location for trade as global powers such as Russia seek to expand their reach in the Arctic Circle.
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What To Know
In an impromptu briefing with reporters, Scholz revealed that he had spoken earlier Wednesday with the president of the European Council and several unnamed European leaders.
Scholz said that it is a longstanding idea that "borders must not be moved by force," noting that this was violated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his invasion of Ukraine.
Scholz refrained from directly naming Trump or elaborating on the specifics of his remarks. Scholz, a center-left Social Democrat campaigning for a second term in next month's early election, emphasized NATO's role as "a central pillar of the transatlantic relationship."
Trump's Remarks on NATO
During a Tuesday news conference, Trump called for NATO to significantly raise its defense spending targets, proposing that member nations allocate a minimum of 5 percent of their GDPs to defense, a sharp increase from the current benchmark of 2 percent.
Germany, often criticized by Trump during his first term for falling short of NATO's defense spending benchmark, increased its contributions to meet the target following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
What People Are Saying
While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Scholz said that during recent discussions "a certain incomprehension became clear regarding current comments from the U.S."
"The principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country, regardless of whether it lies to the east of us or the west, and every state must keep to it, regardless of whether it is a small country or a very powerful state...It is a fundamental principle of international law and a key part of what we call Western values," Scholz said.
He highlighted NATO's "regulated procedure" for assessing required military capabilities, emphasizing the importance of collective action.
"It is important that we stand together and act in unity on these questions," Scholz said.
Greenland Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede said in a December statement: "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our yearlong struggle for freedom."
What's Next
Trump may continue rhetoric about expanding U.S. territory to include Greenland and retaking control of the Panama Canal when he assumes office on January 20.
World leaders are likely to continue to reject Trump's comments. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot recently told French radio that the European Union would not let other nations attack its sovereign borders, whoever they are.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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