Finnish premier calls US rhetoric on Greenland ‘negotiation tactic’

ISTANBUL

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Friday called the recent US rhetoric on Greenland a "negotiation tactic" and warned that a possible military takeover of the country would be "catastrophic."

Speaking to public broadcaster Yle, Orpo argued that the recent US rhetoric on Greenland could be a "negotiation tactic."

"That would be a catastrophic situation, because a Nato country would be intervening militarily in the territory of another Nato country," he said.

Stressing that NATO is “valuable” to the US, he said he does not believe Washington would go “that far” in taking over Greenland.

"I believe Finns can see quite clearly that our security and defence depend very much on the United States," Orpo further said. "Nevertheless, we defend the multilateral world order, the role of UN organisations, and international law. These are the basic principles that a small country like Finland needs."

He also reiterated that Greenlanders and Danes should decide on Greenland's future.

After the Jan. 3 military operation in Venezuela that captured President Nicolas Maduro, US President Donald Trump reiterated his long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland for national security purposes.