The escalating tensions with the United States over Greenland are thrusting Europe into a dilemma as it tries to uphold the principle of sovereignty while avoiding direct confrontation with its long-time ally, French experts said.
Since the repeated demands made by U.S. President Donald Trump to control Greenland, France has been particularly proactive in making its position clear on the issue among the European countries.
Following a private message in which French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his dissatisfaction with U.S. President Donald Trump, Macron lent his support to Greenland by speaking Greenlandic and Danish during his meeting with visiting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen in Paris on Wednesday.
France's posture, to some extent, reflects the fundamental position held by most European nations that the U.S. ambition to acquire Greenland is "unacceptable."
"I don't see the Europeans accepting the idea of annexation. It would be a terrible blow. The Danes would not accept it and the Europeans massively would reject it. Because, in terms of European credibility, it would be a huge blow, a terrible defeat for the Europeans, a terrible defeat," said Zaki Laidi, a professor of international relations at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po).
Adhering to principles while avoiding direct confrontation with the United States is precisely the dilemma currently facing France and other European nations. With sustained pressure from the United States, Europe finds itself caught between its stance and its actions, with the unity of the European Union undergoing a severe test.
"No European country will open fire on American troops, of course. So it will be really easy for America. Don't forget that in several countries of the European Union, the radical rise is rising. They are not in favor of the European Union, so a lot of things may change. Yes, if Donald Trump invades Greenland, it may be the beginning of the end of the European Union," said Romuald Sciora, a research fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS).
Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland, a move that has been repeatedly rejected by Europe.
Escalating tensions with US over Greenland thrusts Europe into dilemma: French experts
An official of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has condemned Israel for demolishing the buildings within the UN agency's East Jerusalem compound.
Israeli authorities stormed the Sheikh Jarrah compound of UNRWA last week. After a full day of demolition, all buildings inside the compound had been flattened or severely damaged. Israeli flags were seen raised at the site, while the United Nations (UN) flag had been taken down.
Olaf Becker, director of UNRWA affairs in Jordan, said the Israeli action gravely violates international law and poses challenges to the operations of UN agencies.
Expressing his deep concerns over Israel's unilateral action, Becker said UNRWA will continue its work in the region and make every effort to ensure that basic public services for Palestinian refugees are not interrupted.
"It's obviously in contravention to international law. It's in contravention to Israel's obligations under the UN Charter as well. While Sheikh Jarrah is highly symbolic, and of course it really impedes our ability for our leadership to operate and coordinate activities. We have offices around the West Bank as well, and we are still operational in those places," Becker said.
Following the demolition, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the compound "does not enjoy any immunity", and that the action complied with the law.
In response, Becker said Israel's denial of the privileges and immunity of UN agencies would directly undermine the legal foundation of the UN system, warning long-term impacts on UN agencies' ability to independently and effectively fulfill their duties within the framework of international law in the Middle East and globally, and worrying consequences for the UN and the multilateral system.
Israel considers all of Jerusalem as its capital, a claim not recognized internationally, while the UN regards East Jerusalem as occupied territory. Israeli officials have long accused UNRWA of employing Hamas members, which the agency denies.
In October 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law banning UNRWA, which provides desperately-needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and other areas, from operating in areas under Israeli jurisdiction, and prohibiting Israeli authorities from maintaining contact or cooperation with the agency, a move UNRWA and international bodies say violates international law. Israel then amended the law in December 2025 to ban electricity or water to UNRWA facilities.
Last month, Israeli authorities seized UNRWA's offices in East Jerusalem.
UNRWA official condemns Israeli demolition of agency’s buildings in East Jerusalem
