"There is no question" of the European Union allowing other countries "to encroach on its sovereign borders," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in response to threats by US President-elect Donald Trump to annex Greenland, Agence France-Presse reported.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within Denmark and is "European Union territory," Barrot stressed. "There is no question of the EU allowing other countries, whoever they may be, to encroach on its sovereign borders," he added to "France Inter" radio.
Paris called on the European Commission to defend the union's member states "with the utmost firmness" against external interference in European public debate, including those of "Ex" owner Elon Musk, AFP notes.
"Either the EC enforces the laws we have adopted to protect our public space in the strictest manner, or it does not and will have to agree to give EU member states the right to do so" alone, Barro noted on the radio.
The newly elected US president did not rule out resorting to military or economic coercion in resolving the issues surrounding his expressed desire for Washington to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, Reuters recalls.
Barro said that he did not believe the US would encroach on the vast Arctic island, which has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years.
"If you ask me if I think the US will invade Greenland, my answer is "no". But have we entered a period where the fittest survive? Then my answer is "yes", he said.
The EU should not allow itself to be intimidated or overly worried, but it must wake up and strengthen its forces, Barro stressed.