VILNIUS – The Greenland issue must be resolved in line with international law, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says as US President Donald Trump threats to take control of the autonomous Danish territory.
"Lithuania clearly stands for the principles of international law, for allies to resolve issues between themselves within the framework provided, as we are obliged to do so by the principles and the commitments of the Alliance, and we continue to adhere to that position," Lithuania's top diplomat told members of the opposition Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats political group at the Seimas on Monday.
"This is not neutrality"," he stressed.
Budrys said last week Lithuania's not taking sides in the Greenland debate.
"Lithuania is not taking either side. Lithuania says that we are all allies, bound by both long-standing cooperation and firm commitments to each other, and it is in that spirit that we resolve all issues that arise between us," Budrys said at the time.
Lithuania also cannot take sides under Article 1 of the NATO Treaty, which states that the Allies undertake to settle any international disputes by peaceful means, the foreign minister pointed out.
On Monday, he reiterated his belief that all issues would be resolved "without forgetting the context and the reason (...) for the security of the North Atlantic and the Arctic, which is important for us, related issues and the future".
In early January, Trump stoked concerns when he said he would not rule out taking economic or military measures to take over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.
Greenland's government insists that the territory is not for sale, but says it is ready to cooperate.
Meanwhile, Danish officials say Trump will not get Greenland ad stress that there's no military threat to either Greenland or Denmark. They say it's for the island to make decisions on this situation.
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