France Mocks US Justification for Greenland Takeover as Diplomatic Tensions Escalate
France has issued a sharp and sarcastic response to the United States after senior officials in the Donald Trump administration defended Washington’s interest in acquiring Greenland, triggering a fresh diplomatic row between transatlantic allies.
Early Monday, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs posted a strongly worded rebuttal on X, pushing back against remarks made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The post mocked the logic used to justify a potential US takeover of Greenland, drawing exaggerated parallels to pre-emptive actions that cause deliberate harm.
Using a series of biting analogies, the French foreign ministry wrote:
“If there were a fire someday, firefighters would intervene — so better burn the house now.
If a shark might attack someday — so better eat the lifeguard now.
If there were a crash someday — so better ram the car now.”
The post, shared alongside a video clip of Bessent’s comments, quickly went viral, with many users praising France’s sharp satire.
US Defends Position on Greenland
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Bessent defended the Trump administration’s stance, arguing that future security risks justified immediate action.
“If there were an attack on Greenland from Russia or elsewhere, we would be dragged in — so better now. Peace through strength. Europeans project weakness. The US projects strength,” Bessent said during the interview.
Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in Greenland, citing its strategic importance in the Arctic and growing geopolitical competition in the region.
EU Considers Retaliation After Tariff Threats
Tensions further escalated after Trump announced on Saturday that the US would impose a 10% tariff on eight European Union countries, including France, starting February 1. He warned the tariff could rise to 25% by June if European governments failed to align with Washington’s Greenland plans.
In response, the European Union is reportedly considering retaliatory measures. These include tariffs worth up to €93 billion on US goods and the possible use of the bloc’s “Anti-Coercion Instrument” (ACI), a powerful mechanism approved in 2023 but never used.
The ACI allows the EU to impose wide-ranging countermeasures, including restrictions on investments and limits on services provided by major US digital companies. Many EU officials have described it as a “nuclear option” designed primarily as a deterrent.
EU Leaders Stress Sovereignty and Cooperation
Amid the escalating rhetoric, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the issue during a meeting with a bipartisan US congressional delegation in Davos.
In a post on X, von der Leyen stressed the importance of respecting international sovereignty.
“I addressed the need to unequivocally respect the sovereignty of Greenland and of the Kingdom of Denmark. This is of utmost importance to our transatlantic relationship,” she said.
She also called for closer cooperation between the EU, the US and NATO to address security challenges in the Arctic region, emphasizing diplomacy over unilateral action.
As global attention remains fixed on Greenland’s strategic future, the exchange highlights growing strains in US-EU relations at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.
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