Michal Barták, vice-chairman of the Defence and Security Committee of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, told a China Media Group reporter that the dispute over Greenland is no longer just a territorial or security issue, but reflects deeper challenges facing transatlantic relations, European strategic autonomy and the entire system of international rules.
Michal Barták, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Security of the Slovak National Assembly: „From the point of view of European security and international law, this is a dangerous precedent that undermines the very foundations of the post-war international order. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and any demand by a third country - even an ally - for so-called ‚effective control‘ is a violation of the sovereignty of a Member State of the European Union.“
Barták further pointed out that the use of trade instruments to exert political pressure by the United States is not only contrary to the spirit of international law, but also weakens the rules-based international trading system.
„In Europe, this approach is increasingly being described as typical ‚trade pressure politics‘, i.e. the misuse of trade instruments to advance political objectives. When the United States makes trade relations conditional on geopolitical demands, it actually undermines the rules-based international trading system that it itself helped to create,“ Barták added.
He also openly stated that the current situation of the European Union is closely related to its long-standing uncritical following of the United States, and this strategic naivety, according to him, is now being mercilessly exposed by reality.
„The European Union is once again paying the price for years of uncritical acceptance of the American narrative. I have been criticising this attitude for a long time - not just during the Donald Trump administration, but for decades. Today, Europe's strategic naivety is on full display. If another power were to commit a similar act, the West's response would immediately be much harsher. This double standard is unsustainable in the long run,“ he added.
Regarding Europe's future foreign relations, Barták said that Europe should put more emphasis on strategic autonomy and support the diversification of its partnership relations.
„Such behaviour undermines trust between Europe and the United States and shows that the US uses trade as a political tool rather than as a basis for cooperation with partners. That is why I support the calls by a growing number of world, including European, leaders to build more diverse partnerships, which should include strengthening cooperation with China. In many areas, China is emerging as a more stable and predictable partner,“ Barták concluded.
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