US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday in Paris that despite the hostile tone of President-elect Donald Trump, the US seizure of Greenland will never happen.
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(Bloomberg) — Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s aggressive language, a U.S. takeover of Greenland will never happen, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday in Paris.
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President Joe Biden’s top diplomat told reporters: “Obviously the idea that has been expressed about Greenland is not a good idea, but perhaps more importantly: it’s clear that it’s not going to happen, so maybe we shouldn’t waste a lot of time talking about it.” “. In a rare direct criticism of an idea proposed by Trump in the weeks before he regained the presidency.
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At a freewheeling news conference in Florida on Tuesday, Trump called on the United States to accommodate Canada and refused to rule out using military force to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland, saying, “We need them for economic security.”
In a less direct rejection of Trump’s combative “America First” approach, Blinken said the Biden administration had operated on the belief “that we are stronger, more effective, and get better results when we work closely with our allies.” – Do not say or do things that might alienate them.
The top US diplomat also said that the outgoing Biden team has positioned the incoming team for success globally, from negotiations to secure a ceasefire and hostage agreement in Gaza to strengthening Trump’s hand in potential negotiations over Ukraine.
“There are a lot of things happening in real time, and I want to make sure that the incoming administration is fully prepared to engage from day one,” Blinken said. He added: “We offer a lot of opportunities, initiatives and positive action, and if the next administration chooses to move forward, I think that will clearly be in the interest of the United States.”
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Blinken, who sometimes spoke in the fluent French he learned as a young man living in Paris, repeatedly alluded to Trump’s passion for deal-making.
“The work and investment we have made in transformative arrangements for the Middle East – starting with the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel – is all ready to be implemented if the opportunity arises with a ceasefire and Gaza as well as Gaza.” Understandings on a path forward for the Palestinians.”
Regarding Ukraine, where Trump has pledged to quickly end the war, Blinken said: “I think the next administration is going to want to make sure they negotiate the best deal possible.” The best possible deal would have to be one that includes real deterrence against a repeat aggression Russia — six months, a year, two years, you name it.
Blinken is in Paris as part of a farewell tour aimed at highlighting US alliances, but it has witnessed a democratic crisis in Seoul, Tokyo’s wounding over Biden’s blocking of Nippon Steel Corp’s attempt to buy the US steel company and the rise of right-wing parties in Europe. .
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