Greenland of the free

Leaders warn Trump: Back off

- BY DAVE BURKE and MIKEY SMITH

EUROPEAN leaders have issued a firm hands-off warning to Donald Trump over Greenland.

The US President sparked diplomatic panic by stating his designs on the Danish territory, saying he is "very serious" about taking it over.

In a statement yesterday, the leaders of France, Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Poland, said: "Greenland belongs to its people.

"It is for Denmark and Greenland, and only them, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland." A former colony, Greenland is a self-governing territory with its own parliament but is part of the Realm of Denmark. Some 56,000 people live on the island, about a third in the capital, Nuuk.

RAID

Denmark is a member of Nato and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned a US invasion would lead to the Nato defence bloc collapsing.

Mr Trump's claim came just days after the US captured the Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a surprise raid.

He told NBC News on Monday: "We need Greenland for national security, and that includes Europe.

"You know I'm very loyal to Europe. We need it for national security, right now.