New Delhi: ‘My friend… don’t understand what you are doing on Greenland.’ That’s French President Emmanuel Macron’s message, and the ‘friend’ is US President Donald Trump. Though the message was meant to be private, Trump, with characteristic lack of diplomacy, shared it on Truth Social.
The message came amid the Trump vs Macron contretemps on France refusing to join Trump’s Board of Peace, with the full message reading: “My friend, we are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things on Iran. I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland.”
Donald Trump also posted a screenshot of Macron’s offer to host dinner in Paris with G-7 leaders after the Davos summit.
“Let us try build great things,” Macron added. After the Davos summit, he further offered to invite the Syrians, Danes, Ukrainians and Russians to Paris on the margins of the summit.
Earlier, Trump also shared messages from NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, who famously called Trump “daddy”, where Rutte applauded the US president’s action in Gaza & Syria and stated he was “committed to finding a way forward on Greenland”.
The offer came despite Trump’s rather sharp answer when asked about Macron’s refusal to join the peace board. He said, “Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon.”
This was followed with a threat. “I will impose a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes, and Macron will join the Board of Peace.”
The White House announced on 16 January the formation of the Board of Peace with a 20-point plan to permanently resolve Israel’s war on Gaza and establish strategic oversight, mobilising international resources and ensuring accountability, till the time peace is established in Gaza.
Europe’s Greenland crisis
Concerns in Europe have escalated after the US president threatened to explore options of military action to take control of Greenland.
European leaders, including the French President, were quick to rally in support of Nuuk, arguing that security of the Arctic region should be a joint NATO responsibility, deeming Trump’s threats unacceptable.
EU leaders plan an extraordinary summit in Brussels on US tariffs and Greenland’s self-determination.
To provide military assurance, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK have also dispatched a small number of troops to Greenland on a reconnaissance mission.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)