Donic: Greenland will not soften EU's position on Kosovo, historical and political contexts are different

Petar Donic, from the New Third Way, believes that the dispute between Europe and America over Greenland will not significantly influence the EU's stance on Kosovo. According to him, the historical and political contexts of the two territories are completely different.

Donic emphasizes that Greenland is more of a strategic interest for the United States than for Denmark or Europe.

“It is not to be expected that the EU's stance on Kosovo will change because the context is not the same. Serbia is located in the center of the Balkans, in the heart of Europe. Greenland is an external territory much closer to America and its strategic interests. They are already planning a referendum and have a high degree of autonomy. The indigenous population has little connection with the Danes. Greenland is already not part of the EU, they opted out of the European community back in 1980 because they could not agree on fishing quotas, which are very important to them,” he told Kosovo Online.

He explains that Greenland is geographically and strategically closer to America and its global maneuvers regarding resources and routes. Commenting on US President Donald Trump’s statement about military actions to take control of Greenland, Donic asserts that it is a matter of political pressure rather than an actual threat.

“As for Donald Trump’s statements, they should not be taken literally or at face value. It is more a form of political pressure. It is not to be expected that one NATO member would attack another, that has only happened in the case of Greece and Turkey. Yet, there was no disbanding of NATO in that situation. So, this is a type of political pressure. Considering that Greenland is a vast territory, the size of Mexico, with a population comparable to Mladenovac (a town in Serbia), and holds 11% of the world’s uranium and 70% of the trade routes between Europe and Northeast Asia, it becomes increasingly strategically significant due to global warming. This interest is far greater for America than for Europe or Denmark,” Donic explains.

He also notes the different contexts of Denmark and Kosovo – the historical ties are much weaker and shallower.

He explains that Greenland's population already has significant autonomy from Denmark and does not consider the country its parent territory. They want to hold a referendum, and Trump hopes to gain the Greenlanders’ favor in such a case, Donic observes.

When asked if the EU’s position on Greenland could work in Serbia’s favor regarding Peter Sorensen, Miroslav Lajcak's successor, who is from Denmark, Donic reiterates that the standards will not be the same in Kosovo’s case.

“One might expect such a connection if viewed through the lens of state-to-state or individual connections, but I believe the standards will not be the same, primarily due to the historical and cultural significance of Kosovo to Serbia versus Greenland to Denmark. Greenland only became part of the Danish Kingdom in the 18th century. Its predominantly Inuit population has minimal ties with the Danes, who came to administer the territory. They are gradually seeking to exit that relationship, therefore, no direct parallel can be drawn due to Greenland’s lack of importance to Europe,” Donic concludes.