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In the list of the world's most pressing security issues, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) sees other priorities than the Greenland issue. On the sidelines of his Austrian counterpart Beate Meinl-Reisinger's visit to Berlin last Friday afternoon, the minister answered a question from diplo.news about how far Europe's and Germany's support for Greenland would go. He said he still saw no indication that such a violation of international law could occur.

He listed a number of sources of conflict on which it would be better to focus. “In my assessment of the international situation, I believe that there are more urgent problems for our security and peace in the world. First and foremost, this is still Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. ”

The next conflict involves Gaza, followed by the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Sudan, accompanied by constant civil war. This is probably the greatest humanitarian disaster currently facing humanity. “And beyond that, ultimately, it is the situation in Iran that can only make one shudder at the atrocities this regime is committing against its own people.”

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“When I look at these situations, I can only advise us in our alliance as Europeans to focus on these issues. There are enough problems that we are struggling to get to grips with and to mitigate the terrible effects on people, without burdening ourselves with unnecessary new issues,” said the foreign minister.

Wadephul did not want to answer questions about the mission that the German Bundeswehr is carrying out in Greenland. It is usually the Minister of Defense and not the Minister of Foreign Affairs who must answer such technical questions. He did not want to interfere.

“It is indisputable that we have new security risks in the Arctic region,” said Wadephul. “Fundamentally, however, it is about signaling our willingness to work with others to take concrete responsibility for the security of the Arctic region.” The dispatch of the small reconnaissance mission to Greenland shows that “we are indeed prepared to assume security policy responsibility in this direction.”

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Wadephul emphasized “the common understanding.” “Neither the US nor Greenland nor Denmark alone, but we as an alliance as a whole could ward off precisely those dangers to which we are jointly exposed.”

It cannot be said often enough: “What happens to Greenland is decided by the Greenlanders.” That is a question of territorial sovereignty. “And the Greenlanders have already made their decision clear.”

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ekö