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

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, spoke in Paris on Wednesday about the challenges that Donald J. Trump’s imminent return to the White House has already created for US allies, and said they believed that an American takeover of Greenland was an impossible idea.

But they also said their countries would try to work together through potential political turmoil in the coming years, including the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.

In recent days, European leaders have turned their attention to the inflammatory statements of many by Mr. Trump and his allies. The newly elected president said he wants to make Greenland a part of the United States. The autonomous territory is controlled by NATO ally Denmark. And the chief adviser, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, declared his support for a far-right political party in Germany.

“The idea expressed about Greenland is clearly not a good idea, but perhaps more importantly, it’s clearly not going to happen,” Mr Blinken said at a news conference with Mr Barrot. “So we probably shouldn’t waste too much time talking about it.”

He prefaced it with advice clearly intended for Mr Trump: “We are stronger, more effective and achieve better results when we work closely with our allies, not to mention alienating them.”

Mr Barrot agreed he did not think the US would invade Greenland, but said: “Do we think we’re entering a period where we’re going back to the laws of the jungle? The answer is yes.”

Later, in his speech about Ukraine, he put Russian President Vladimir V. Putin in exactly this context.

“This is a question of the future of international law,” Mr Barrot said. “If we accept the surrender of Ukraine, we will prefer force. This is a matter of security for the French people, as well as for Europeans.”

Mr Blinken’s stop in Paris is part of his latest whirlwind diplomatic tour of Asian and European allies. He He met with officials in Seoul on Monday, amid South Korea’s biggest political crisis in decades; The next day, he held talks in Tokyo, which were blocked by the Biden administration shortly after amalgamation of the steel industry wanted by Japanese officials; and then flew to Paris overnight via Alaska to avoid Russian airspace.

Mr. Blinken’s visits to South Korea and Japan reflected the importance of those nations in the US government’s calculations of military deterrence against China and North Korea. Both are key allies, hosting US military bases and troops. France has been one of the most important allies opposing Russia’s large-scale intervention in Ukraine and providing arms to the Ukrainian army.

Like other European officials, those in Paris are worried about Mr. Trump’s return, even though they were genuinely surprised by the outcome of the U.S. election.

In Mr. Blinken, President Biden has a diplomat well-suited to appease the French: He grew up in an intellectual environment in Paris and speaks fluent French, which he has placed here in a plush room at the State Department, almost there. It is certain to be his last overseas press conference as secretary of state.

In their opening remarks, both Mr. Blinken and Mr. Barrot highlighted the diplomacy their nations have done together during recent crises, notably the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and the war between Russia and Ukraine. Their nations have also tried to coordinate policies on Syria, where rebels have ousted longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad.

“I am delighted that you will continue to carry the torch on these important issues for our countries in the coming months,” Mr Blinken told Mr Barrot.

In praising Mr. Blinken, the French minister used language that carried a veiled criticism of the America that Mr. Trump represents.

“You embodied the America we love,” Mr. Barrot said. He spoke of a nation that built a “law-based international order” after World War II with a “high vision, a visceral commitment to the values ​​of freedom.”

At one point, he said, “We’ve survived about 59 American elections, and we’ll certainly survive the 60th.”

Among their concerns, European leaders worry that Mr. Trump will soon impose new tariffs. Anemia on the rise in Europe compared to the United States.

Mr. Blinken’s visit comes at a time of intense internal political division for France. Francois Bayrou, the centrist prime minister appointed last month, is a case in point. called The “most difficult” situation for the country since the end of the Second World War. But for now, these divisions are more likely to affect France’s domestic politics, especially its inability to pass the budget.

All this has served to weaken the hand of President Emmanuel Macron at home, but Mr Macron, who considers himself a pragmatic centrist under the French system, still wields considerable influence when it comes to foreign policy. This provided some continuity in France’s attitude towards Mr Trump.

The stance is a mix of concern, caution and Mr Macron’s belief that he has a clear vision of America’s president-elect and his mercurial style of governance. Mr Macron was elected president in 2017, the same year Mr Trump began his first term.

Given Mr. Trump’s skepticism about the role of the United States, over the years the French president has sought to preserve Franco-American relations while preparing his country, and Europeans more generally, for the possibility that the continent will have to defend itself increasingly militarily. in NATO.

On the campaign trail last year, Mr Trump hinted that he would not abide by NATO’s collective defense clause, known as Article 5, and even said he would “push” Russia to “do what they want” to countries that do not. contributed enough to the alliance.

During his annual New Year’s Eve speech, Mr. Macron reiterated his position many times before, he said Europe “cannot entrust its security and defense to other powers”, pledging to continue investing in France’s “military rearmament”.

On Monday, Mr Macron raised concerns about Mr Musk, who has recently used his social media platform, X, to praise Germany’s far-right party and attack Britain’s Labor prime minister.

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

Asked about Mr. Musk at a press conference on Wednesday, Mr. Blinken said: “In our country, private citizens can say what they want, what they believe, and everyone can draw their own conclusions and take their own position on the issue. issue.”

Mr Barrot said the same about Mr Musk. Soon after, Mr. Blinken boarded a convoy to the Elysee Palace to meet Mr. Macron and receive the Legion of Honor, which the French give to people they consider true friends.

Catherine Porter contributed to the report.