Germany and France have warned Donald Trump against threatening Greenland, after the US president-elect refused to rule out using military force to seize Denmark’s autonomous territory.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said “the principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country… no matter whether it’s a very small one or a very powerful one”.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said “there is obviously no question that the European Union would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders”.

On Tuesday, Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, saying that the Arctic island was “critical” for national and economic security.

He has repeatedly expressed an interest in buying Greenland, having mooted the idea in 2019, during his first term as president.

Denmark, a long-time US ally, has made clear that Greenland is not for sale and that it belongs to its inhabitants.

Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, is pushing for independence from Denmark, but he too has made clear the territory is not for sale. He was visiting Copenhagen on Wednesday.

Chancellor Scholz said there was a “certain incomprehension” about statements coming from the incoming US administration.

“The principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country no matter whether that’s in the east or the west.”

Denmark is a member of the US-led Nato alliance, as are Germany and France.

Scholz stressed that “Nato is the most important instrument for our defence and a central of the transatlantic relationship”.

Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Jean-Noël Barrot told France Inter radio: “If you’re asking me whether I think the United States will invade Greenland, my answer is no.

“Have we entered into an era that sees the return of the survival of the fittest? Then the answer is yes.

“So, should we allow ourselves to be intimidated and overcome with worry, clearly not. We must wake up, build up our strength,” the French foreign minister added.

Germany and France are the two leading members of the EU, often described as its main driving force.

However, it is difficult to imagine how the EU might prevent any potential attack. It has no defensive capabilities of its own and most of its 27 member states are part of Nato.

Trump made the remarks at a free-wheeling news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, less than two weeks before he is sworn in for his second term as president on 20 January.

Asked if he would rule out using military or economic force in order to take over Greenland or the Panama Canal, Trump said: “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two.

“But I can say this, we need them for economic security.”

(BBC)

A light aircraft has crashed during takeoff at a popular tourist destination in Australia, killing three people and injuring three others.

The privately owned Cessna 208 Caravan plane crashed into the sea after taking off from Rottnest Island, about 30km (18.6 miles) west of Perth, at about 4pm local time, authorities said on Wednesday.

The deceased were a 34-year-old man from Perth, a 65-year-old woman from Switzerland and a 60-year-old man from Denmark, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said.

“My thoughts go out to the families and friends of the victims. This is no doubt very difficult for everyone involved,” Cook told reporters at a news conference.

Cook said the crash had occurred in the presence of a large number of tourists, including families with children.

“Every Western Australian knows that Rottnest is our premier tourism destination. For something so tragic to happen in front of so many people, at a place that provides so much joy, especially at this time of the year, is deeply upsetting,” he said.

A 63-year-old Swiss man, a 58-year-old Danish woman and an Australian couple in their 60s were rescued from the crash site.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it was investigating the cause of the crash.

“As reported to the ATSB, during take-off the floatplane collided with the water, before coming to rest partially submerged,” the agency said in a statement.

“The ATSB will deploy a team of transport safety investigators from its Perth, Brisbane and Canberra offices, specialising in human performance, and aircraft operations and maintenance.”

Rottnest Island, also known by the Indigenous name Wadjemup, is one of Western Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting more than 800,000 visitors in 2023, according to Tourism Council WA.

The protected nature reserve is known for its white-sand beaches and unique flora and fauna, including the Quokka, a mainly nocturnal marsupial about the size of a cat.

[Aljazeera]

Indonesia has formally joined the BRICS group, a bloc of emerging economies featuring Russia, China and others that is viewed as a counterweight to the West.

Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the group, declared on Monday that Indonesia was set to join as a full member. Indonesia said on Tuesday that it “welcomes” the announcement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta said in a statement that BRICS membership is “a strategic step to improve the collaborations and cooperation with other developing nations, based on the principle of equality, mutual respect, and sustainable development”.

It also expressed “gratitude to Russia,” the 2024 BRICS chair, “for its support and leadership in facilitating Indonesia’s joining”.

The foreign ministry in Brazil said earlier that Southeast Asia’s most populous country “shares with the other members the will to reform the institutions of global governance and contribute positively to cooperation within the Global South”.

It noted that Indonesia’s bid to join the bloc was approved during a summit in 2023 in Johannesburg.

Its acronym originally coined by a Goldman Sachs banker at the dawn of the century, the BRICS group was formally created in 2009 by founding members Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined the following year.

The bloc expanded again last year as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates became full members.

BRICS is increasingly viewed as a counterweight to the West, with the “de-dollarisation” of international trade a key goal. Many members accuse Washington of using the greenback as a political tool, and the group has proposed a common currency.

US President-elect Donald Trump has threatned 100 percent tariffs on BRICS nations if they replace the dollar in international trade.

However, Brazil has indicated that it aims to boost the effort during its presidency of BRICS. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government has said its objective is the “development of means of payment” to facilitate trade between member countries.

Indonesia said in its statement: “This achievement shows Indonesia’s increasingly active role in global issues and commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation to create a global structure that is more inclusive and fair.”

[Aljazeera]