Blinken and a French diplomat criticize Trump’s talk about seizing Greenland

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrow spoke on Wednesday in Paris about the challenges already facing US alliances due to the imminent return of Donald J. Trump to the White House, and said they believed a US takeover of Greenland was an impossible idea.

But they also stressed that their countries would try to continue working together during potential political turmoil in the coming years, including the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.

European leaders have focused in recent days on what many see as inflammatory statements from Mr. Trump and his allies. The president-elect has said he would like to make Greenland part of the United States. The autonomous region is under the control of Denmark, a NATO ally. One of the senior advisors, billionaire businessman Elon Musk, announced his support for a far-right political party in Germany.

“The idea that has been expressed about Greenland is clearly not a good idea, but perhaps more importantly, it is an idea that is not going to happen,” Blinken said in a press conference with Barrow. “So maybe we shouldn’t waste too much time talking about it.”

He began with advice clearly directed at Mr. Trump: “We are stronger, more effective, and get better results when we work closely with our allies, and don’t say things that might alienate them.”

Mr. Barrow agreed that he did not believe the United States might invade Greenland, but said: “Do we think we are entering a period where we return to the law of the jungle? The answer is yes.”

Later, in his statements on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin put it squarely in this context as well.

“It is a question of the future of international law,” Mr. Barrow said. He added: “If we accept Ukraine’s surrender, we will allow force to prevail. It is a matter of security for the French people, as well as for the Europeans.”

Blinken’s visit to Paris is part of a whirlwind recent diplomatic trip in which he will visit Asian and European allies. he He met with officials in Seoul On Monday, amid the biggest political crisis South Korea has witnessed in decades; He held talks in Tokyo the next day, shortly after the Biden administration blocked an agreement Steel industry merger What Japanese officials wanted; Then it headed overnight to Paris, via Alaska to avoid Russian airspace.

Mr. Blinken’s visits to South Korea and Japan were a reflection of the importance of those two countries in the US government’s calculations for establishing military deterrence against China and North Korea. Both are major allies that host US military bases and US forces. France was one of the most important allies in opposing the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and supplying weapons to the Ukrainian army.

Like other European officials, those in Paris are concerned about Mr. Trump’s return, although few were truly surprised by the US election result.

In Mr. Blinken, President Biden has a diplomat well-suited to trying to reassure the French: He grew up in an intellectual environment in Paris and speaks fluent French, which he put to use here in an ornate room at the State Department, in what was almost certainly his last news conference abroad as secretary of state.

In their opening remarks, both Mr. Blinken and Mr. Barrow emphasized the diplomacy their countries have undertaken together during recent crises, in particular the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Their countries have also tried to coordinate policies toward Syria, where rebels recently ousted Bashar al-Assad, the long-ruling dictator.

“I am pleased that you will continue to carry the torch over the coming months on these critical issues for our two countries,” Blinken told Mr. Barrow.

The French minister praised Mr. Blinken, using language that appeared to carry a veiled criticism of America, which Mr. Trump represents.

“She embodied the face of the America we love,” Mr. Barrow said. He spoke of a country that built a “law-based international order” after World War II through its “noble outlook and deep connection to the values ​​of freedom.”

At one point, he said: “We have survived about 59 US elections, and of course we will survive the 60th US election.”

Among their concerns, European leaders are concerned about the possibility of Trump imposing new tariffs over a period of time Poor growth in Europe Compared with the United States.

Mr. Blinken’s visit comes at a time of sharp internal political division in France. It is the moment for François Bayrou, the centrist prime minister appointed last month, And he called The “most difficult” situation the country has experienced since the end of World War II. But for now, these divisions mostly affect France’s domestic politics, especially its inability to pass a budget.

All of this has weakened President Emmanuel Macron’s hand at home, but under the French regime, Mr. Macron, who considers himself a practical centrist, still wields significant influence when it comes to foreign affairs. This has provided a certain continuity in the French position towards Mr. Trump.

This position is a mixture of anxiety, caution, Mr. Macron’s belief that he has a clear vision for the US president-elect and his erratic style of governance. Mr. Macron was elected president in 2017, the same year Mr. Trump took office for his first term.

Over the years, the French president has sought to preserve the Franco-American relationship while preparing his country — and Europeans in general — for the possibility that the continent will increasingly have to defend itself militarily, given Trump’s doubts about the American role. In NATO.

At a campaign event last year, Trump implied that he would not abide by NATO’s collective defense clause, known as Article 5, and even said he would “encourage” Russia to “do whatever they want” to countries that did not. Contribute enough to the alliance.

During his annual New Year’s Eve address, Mr Macron reiterated a position he has taken many times before, He said Europe can no longer “delegate its security and defense to other powers,” pledging to continue investing in French “military rearmament.”

On Monday, Macron raised concerns about Mr Musk, who recently used his social media platform, X, to praise a German far-right party and attack the British Labor prime minister.

Without mentioning Mr. Musk’s name, Mr. Macron said: “Ten years ago, if we had said that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world would support a new international reactionary force and would directly interfere in elections, including elections.” Germany, who would have imagined that?

On Wednesday, when Blinken was asked at the news conference about Mr. Musk, he said: “Ordinary citizens of our country can say what they want and what they believe, and everyone else can draw their own conclusions and take their own positions on the matter.” topic.”

Mr. Parrott said the same thing about Mr. Musk. Shortly afterward, Mr. Blinken boarded a convoy headed to the Elysee Palace to meet Mr. Macron and receive the Legion of Honour, which the French give to people they consider true friends.

Catherine Porter Contributed to reports.