I was embarrassed by the weak response of our federal government on the Greenland issue.

But at least our state parliament found (maybe a bit late) clearer words:

State Parliament Rejects Pressure on Greenland

Schleswig-Holstein sends a clear signal: No one should dictate Greenland’s future from the outside. Why the state parliament is now taking a stand against Trump’s plans.

Kiel (dpa/lno). Big politics instead of small-scale maneuvering: Schleswig-Holstein’s state parliament has declared its solidarity with Denmark and Greenland in the conflict with US President Donald Trump. Attempts or considerations by external actors to influence Greenland’s internal political affairs or even to pursue an annexation of the territory are to be firmly rejected, according to a resolution unanimously adopted by the parliament on Thursday morning. “Only Greenland itself has the right to decide on its future state affiliation.”

“Today we are talking about a highly explosive issue,” said SSW member of parliament Jette Waldinger-Thiering. The state parliament was sending an important signal. The people of Greenland have the right to decide their own future. The United States was acting as if it were a game of Monopoly. “That is not how it works.” She said she had been in contact with Greenlanders since her school days in the Danish town of Aabenraa. Many of them could no longer sleep properly and felt like pawns in a global game.

Consul General Present

Minister-President Daniel Günther (CDU) emphasized that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland are not negotiable.” The signal sent by the state parliament would certainly be noticed in Denmark. This was demonstrated by the attendance of Danish Consul General Annette Lind at the parliamentary session. She followed the debate from the visitors’ gallery.

“The German-Danish friendship, and Schleswig-Holstein’s friendship with Denmark, is not a fair-weather friendship,” said Günther. Germany’s northernmost state stood unwaveringly at the side of its Danish friends. A clear European position had to be set against the actions of US President Trump. “In Europe, we are not as weak as we sometimes make ourselves out to be.” In terms of economic strength, Europe sits exactly between the United States and China.

CDU lawmaker Rasmus Vöge stressed that NATO’s security guarantee was the most important pillar on which peace and freedom were based. “If this certainty that I have described changes or even collapses, that is a good reason to discuss it here in the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament. The issue concerns the people in our state.” It was the task of politics to address people’s concerns, “regardless of whether we have original decision-making authority or not.”

Parliament United

Green Party lawmaker Eka von Kalben added that “this concerns us precisely because the world order is changing.” Greenland is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Decisions about its future must be made exclusively in Greenland, “and not because someone else wants to have Greenland.” In this situation, Europe must not remain a bystander.

For SPD parliamentary group leader Serpil Midyatli, one thing was clear with regard to Trump: “This man is an imperialist.” His approach was shameless. Only someone indifferent to people would act in such a way. “We do care what they want and how they are feeling right now,” she added, referring to the people of Greenland.

The shared message was that Schleswig-Holstein stands in solidarity. “I fear that the old world order as we knew it will not return,” said Midyatli. What was needed was an alliance of medium-sized powers to avoid being crushed by the great powers. Solidarity was the strongest force in the face of attacks.

For Heiner Garg (FDP), US ambitions require a response marked by wisdom, clarity, and foresight. However, one thing was certain for him: “A single administration will certainly not destroy the long-standing transatlantic ties and friendships with the American people.” The North stands firmly by its partner and friend Denmark.

In its resolution, the state parliament clearly opposes any form of political or economic pressure on Greenland that calls into question the right of the Greenlandic population to self-determination. “As a state with a long-standing and deep connection to Denmark, Schleswig-Holstein shows solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.”

German original: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/landtag-stellt-sich-gegen-druck-auf-groenland-UTMA56IMDP7XLEZSWF6HE3ZK2Q.html

CC @randahl

I was embarrassed by the weak response of our federal government on the Greenland issue.

But at least our state parliament found (maybe a bit late) clearer words:

State Parliament Rejects Pressure on Greenland

Schleswig-Holstein sends a clear signal: No one should dictate Greenland’s future from the outside. Why the state parliament is now taking a stand against Trump’s plans.

Kiel (dpa/lno). Big politics instead of small-scale maneuvering: Schleswig-Holstein’s state parliament has declared its solidarity with Denmark and Greenland in the conflict with US President Donald Trump. Attempts or considerations by external actors to influence Greenland’s internal political affairs or even to pursue an annexation of the territory are to be firmly rejected, according to a resolution unanimously adopted by the parliament on Thursday morning. “Only Greenland itself has the right to decide on its future state affiliation.”

“Today we are talking about a highly explosive issue,” said SSW member of parliament Jette Waldinger-Thiering. The state parliament was sending an important signal. The people of Greenland have the right to decide their own future. The United States was acting as if it were a game of Monopoly. “That is not how it works.” She said she had been in contact with Greenlanders since her school days in the Danish town of Aabenraa. Many of them could no longer sleep properly and felt like pawns in a global game.

Consul General Present

Minister-President Daniel Günther (CDU) emphasized that “the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland are not negotiable.” The signal sent by the state parliament would certainly be noticed in Denmark. This was demonstrated by the attendance of Danish Consul General Annette Lind at the parliamentary session. She followed the debate from the visitors’ gallery.

“The German-Danish friendship, and Schleswig-Holstein’s friendship with Denmark, is not a fair-weather friendship,” said Günther. Germany’s northernmost state stood unwaveringly at the side of its Danish friends. A clear European position had to be set against the actions of US President Trump. “In Europe, we are not as weak as we sometimes make ourselves out to be.” In terms of economic strength, Europe sits exactly between the United States and China.

CDU lawmaker Rasmus Vöge stressed that NATO’s security guarantee was the most important pillar on which peace and freedom were based. “If this certainty that I have described changes or even collapses, that is a good reason to discuss it here in the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament. The issue concerns the people in our state.” It was the task of politics to address people’s concerns, “regardless of whether we have original decision-making authority or not.”

Parliament United

Green Party lawmaker Eka von Kalben added that “this concerns us precisely because the world order is changing.” Greenland is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Decisions about its future must be made exclusively in Greenland, “and not because someone else wants to have Greenland.” In this situation, Europe must not remain a bystander.

For SPD parliamentary group leader Serpil Midyatli, one thing was clear with regard to Trump: “This man is an imperialist.” His approach was shameless. Only someone indifferent to people would act in such a way. “We do care what they want and how they are feeling right now,” she added, referring to the people of Greenland.

The shared message was that Schleswig-Holstein stands in solidarity. “I fear that the old world order as we knew it will not return,” said Midyatli. What was needed was an alliance of medium-sized powers to avoid being crushed by the great powers. Solidarity was the strongest force in the face of attacks.

For Heiner Garg (FDP), US ambitions require a response marked by wisdom, clarity, and foresight. However, one thing was certain for him: “A single administration will certainly not destroy the long-standing transatlantic ties and friendships with the American people.” The North stands firmly by its partner and friend Denmark.

In its resolution, the state parliament clearly opposes any form of political or economic pressure on Greenland that calls into question the right of the Greenlandic population to self-determination. “As a state with a long-standing and deep connection to Denmark, Schleswig-Holstein shows solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.”

German original: https://www.kn-online.de/schleswig-holstein/landtag-stellt-sich-gegen-druck-auf-groenland-UTMA56IMDP7XLEZSWF6HE3ZK2Q.html

CC @randahl