عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

France Working with Allies on Plan Should US Move on Greenland

Sermitsiaq mountain (Saddle mountain), a 1,210-meter tall landmark is seen behind Nuuk, Greenland, on March 10, 2025. (AFP)
Sermitsiaq mountain (Saddle mountain), a 1,210-meter tall landmark is seen behind Nuuk, Greenland, on March 10, 2025. (AFP)
TT
TT

France Working with Allies on Plan Should US Move on Greenland

Sermitsiaq mountain (Saddle mountain), a 1,210-meter tall landmark is seen behind Nuuk, Greenland, on March 10, 2025. (AFP)
Sermitsiaq mountain (Saddle mountain), a 1,210-meter tall landmark is seen behind Nuuk, Greenland, on March 10, 2025. (AFP)

France is working with partners on a plan over how to respond should the United States act on its threat to take over Greenland, a minister said on Wednesday, as Europe sought ​to address US President Donald Trump's ambitions in the region.

A US military seizure of Greenland from a longtime ally, Denmark, would send shockwaves through the NATO alliance and deepen the divide between Trump and European leaders.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the subject would be raised at a meeting with the foreign ministers of Germany and Poland later in the day.

"We want to take action, but ‌we want to ‌do so together with our European partners," ‌he ⁠said ​on France ‌Inter radio.

Leaders from major European powers and Canada have rallied behind Greenland this week, saying the Arctic island belongs to its people, following a renewed threat by Trump to take over the territory.

TRUMP RENEWS GREENLAND AMBITIONS

Trump has in recent days repeated that he wants to gain control of Greenland, an idea first voiced in 2019 during his first presidency. He ⁠has argued it is key for the US military and that Denmark has not ‌done enough to protect it.

The White House ‍said on Tuesday that Trump ‍was discussing options for acquiring Greenland, including potential use of the US ‍military, in a revival of his ambition to control the strategic island, despite European objections.

Barrot suggested a US military operation had been ruled out by a top US official.

"I myself was on the phone yesterday with US ​Secretary of State Marco Rubio (...) who confirmed that this was not the approach taken ... he ruled out the possibility of ⁠an invasion (of Greenland)," he said.

A US military operation over the weekend that seized the leader of Venezuela had already rekindled concerns that Greenland might face a similar scenario. It has repeatedly said it does not want to be part of the United States.

The world's largest island but with a population of just 57,000 people, Greenland is not an independent member of NATO but is covered by Denmark's membership of the Western alliance.

The island is strategically located between Europe and North America, making it a critical site for the US ballistic missile defense system ‌for decades. Its mineral wealth also aligns with Washington's ambition to reduce reliance on China.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

US Announces Aid to Bolster Thailand, Cambodia Truce

This handout photograph taken and released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) on January 2, 2026 shows a general view of damaged houses following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers, in Chouk Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province. (Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) on January 2, 2026 shows a general view of damaged houses following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers, in Chouk Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province. (Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) / AFP)
TT
TT

US Announces Aid to Bolster Thailand, Cambodia Truce

This handout photograph taken and released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) on January 2, 2026 shows a general view of damaged houses following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers, in Chouk Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province. (Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) on January 2, 2026 shows a general view of damaged houses following clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers, in Chouk Chey village in Banteay Meanchey province. (Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) / AFP)

The United States on Friday announced some $45 million in aid as it tries to bolster a fragile truce between Thailand and Cambodia.

Michael DeSombre, the top State Department official for East Asia, was visiting Thailand and Cambodia to discuss ways to strengthen the ceasefire, which President Donald Trump has sought to highlight as an achievement.

DeSombre said the United States would offer $20 million to help both countries combat drug trafficking and cyber scams, which have become a major concern in Cambodia.

He also said the United States would give $15 million to help support people displaced by the recent fighting as well as $10 million for demining, AFP said.

"The United States will continue to support the Cambodian and Thai governments as they implement the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords and pave the way for a return to peace, prosperity and stability for their people and the region," DeSombre said in a statement.

He was referring to an agreement signed between the two countries in the presence of Trump during an October visit to Malaysia, then head of the ASEAN regional bloc.

Major new clashes erupted last month. The two sides reached a truce on December 27 after three weeks of fighting, although Thailand accused Cambodia of violating in apparent accidental fire.

Cambodia has called on Thailand to pull out its forces from several border areas that Phnom Penh claims as its own.

The nations' long-standing conflict stems from a dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border, where both sides claim territory and centuries-old temple ruins.

Trump has listed the conflict as one of a number of wars he says he has solved as he loudly insists he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

Trump on taking office drastically slashed foreign aid, including for months freezing longstanding assistance to Cambodia for demining, with the administration saying it will provide money only in support of narrow US interests.

World

Zelensky Calls for 'Clear Reaction' From World to Russian Attack

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 06 January 2026. EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 06 January 2026. EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT
TT
TT

Zelensky Calls for 'Clear Reaction' From World to Russian Attack

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 06 January 2026. EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the Coalition of the Willing summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 06 January 2026. EPA/LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL MAXPPP OUT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the world to act after Russia hit western Ukraine with its new Oreshnik ballistic missile in a massive overnight attack that killed four in the capital Kyiv.

"A clear reaction from the world is needed. Above all from the United States, whose signals Russia truly pays attention to," Zelensky said on social media.

"Russia must receive signals that it is its obligation to focus on diplomacy, and must feel consequences every time it again focuses on killings and the destruction of infrastructure," he added.

World

Turkish Airlines Cancels Friday’s Istanbul-Tehran Flights

Iranians walk on a street in Tehran, Iran, 08 January 2026. (EPA)
Iranians walk on a street in Tehran, Iran, 08 January 2026. (EPA)
TT
TT

Turkish Airlines Cancels Friday’s Istanbul-Tehran Flights

Iranians walk on a street in Tehran, Iran, 08 January 2026. (EPA)
Iranians walk on a street in Tehran, Iran, 08 January 2026. (EPA)

Turkish Airlines has cancelled its five Friday flights to the Iranian capital Tehran, which has been rocked by protests against the rising cost of living, according to the Istanbul Airport app.

Five other flights operated by Iranian airlines have also been cancelled, according to the airport app, while seven others remain scheduled.

Turkish authorities have not commented so far on the situation in Iran, where the protests have challenged the authorities under Ali Khamenei.

The Iranian government was already battling an economic crisis after years of sanctions and recovering from the June war against Israel.

Rights groups have accused Iranian security forces of opening fire on demonstrators, with the Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights saying Thursday that security forces had killed at least 45 protesters, including eight minors, since the demonstrations began.

According to the specialist website Flight Radar, a Turkish Airlines plane flying to Shiraz and a Pegasus flight to Mashad turned back from Iranian space on Thursday night.

Türkiye shares a border of around 500 kilometers (300 miles) with Iran, and there are three active land crossings between the two countries.