Europe warns Donald Trump against threatening Greenland, Australia cannot remain silent for long

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dodged critiquing Donald Trump’s overtures on using military force to seize control of Greenland, but when it comes to fundamental international principles, the Government cannot afford to hide silently in the wings for long.

Overnight, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a statement backed by France and other European nations, warned Mr Trump against threatening the sovereignty of allied nations.

Mr Trump triggered alarm this week when he refused to rule out military intervention to gain control over the Panama Canal and Greenland, an oil- and mineral-rich Arctic island, which also happens to be an autonomous territory of Nato and European Union member Denmark.

Mr Scholz’s rebuttal of the suggestion was swift and robust.

In a hastily convened press conference in Berlin, he underscored the “inviolability of borders” as a “fundamental principle of international law” and “Western values.”

To stress his point, he published a Tweet in English, invoking the comparison of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Borders must not be moved by force. This principle applies to every country, whether in the East or the West. In talks with our European partners, there is an uneasiness regarding recent statements from the US. It is clear: We must stand together.”

Mr Albanese was less forthright when asked on Sky News about his view on Mr Trump’s statement and whether Australia would support key Arctic Rim allies, who would be expected to reciprocate for Canberra’s own Indo-Pacific interests.

“I will deliver on Australia’s national interest rather than having a running commentary on what world leaders have to say about issues that don’t impact directly on Australia,” he said.

“My job is to look after Australia’s national interest, to ensure that Australia has a positive relationship on an ongoing basis with our friends in the United States. And that’s what I intend to do.”

But defending Western democratic values and rejecting rhetoric to overturn the long-vaunted “international rules-based order” is in Australia’s national interests.

And it’s an argument that Canberra should be making, whether publicly or in private, said Donald Rothwell, a professor of International Law at the Australian National University.

“It’s a fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter, as indeed it is a fundamental principle of the NATO Treaty, which the United States and the US’ Western European partners are a party to, that you cannot use force. And you certainly cannot use military force to seek to acquire territory,” he said.

“So it’s a fundamental principle of the post-World War Two international order. And of course, we’ve seen the reaction against that most recently, vis a vis Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

Acting leader of the Greens, Sarah Hanson-Young, put it more bluntly.

“We’ve got to be prepared to stand up and call out the crazy behaviour, the wrong decisions and the divisive politics of Donald Trump,” she said.

Prof. Rothwell suggested Canberra could expect to be given some leeway while operating in a “gray area” ahead of the January 20 presidential inauguration.

“The Australian Government is dealing with the Biden administration, even though it’s in its dying days. So, you could take the view that that it’s proper for Australia to be a little cautious at the moment in terms of playing into this matter. But on the 20th of January, things might change,” he said.

Mr Trump’s “wide-ranging” views on Greenland and lack of a prepared policy platform also warranted caution, he said.

Multiple legal options remain available to Washington to deepen its cooperation with Greenland and the Danish government to secure US interests in the strategically located territory.

But while pre-inauguration uncertainty may offer US allies a brief window of respite, come January 20, Australian and other democratic leaders must brace to be tougher with the Trump White House, even when uncomfortable.

If not, it’s only a matter of time before authoritarian states call out double standards.