As Donald Trump continues to bloviate about making Greenland a part of the U.S., here are some things to keep in mind.
ITEM: The U.S. encouraged the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949 as a bulwark against Soviet expansionism in Europe. The U.S. is the principal power in NATO.
ITEM: Trump won’t rule out using military force to seize Greenland.
ITEM: Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, one of the original 12 NATO members.
ITEM: The Washington Post headlined a story thus: “In sum: Trump just left open using military force against a NATO ally.” Wrote the Post’s Aaron Blake: “[Trump] just left open using a military threat against a NATO ally, Greenland. And NATO rules require an attack on any member to be treated as an attack on them all. That’s certainly no small thing, even if it’s just Trump being Trump.”
ITEM: NATO Treaty Article 5
The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.
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