By April Lanux

A Danish politician is the latest voice from across the Atlantic to forcefully reject President Trump’s proposal for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, telling the newly inaugurated commander in chief to “f??? off.”

“Dear President Trump, listen very carefully. Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years. It is an integrated part of our country,” said Anders Vistisen, a Danish member of the European Parliament, at a meeting of the body in Strasbourg, France.

“It is not for sale,” Vistisen continued. “Let me put it in words you might understand, Mr. Trump: F??? off.”

European Parliament Vice President Nicolae ?tef?nu?? reprimanded Vistisen for the remark, noting such profanity is not allowed.

“It is not OK in this house of democracy,” ?tef?nu?? said, according to Mediaite. “Regardless of what we think of Mr. Trump, it is not possible to use such language.”

The exchange follows repeated comments from Trump about acquiring Greenland, despite its leaders and European officials repeatedly saying it’s not for sale.

On his first full day in office, Trump said Denmark will “come along” with the potential sale of Greenland.

Greenland is an autonomous territory controlled by Denmark.

Since Trump won the election, he’s shown interest in purchasing the island, saying that owning it is “an absolute necessity.” He has not ruled out using the U.S. military to achieve that goal.

By Richard Thompson

France, Britain, Germany, Italy the European Union and the United States issued a joint statement condemning the Serb parliament's actions as "a serious threat to the country's constitutional order".

The statement warned: "At a time when formal opening of EU accession negotiations has never been so close, a return to political blockades would have negative consequences for all citizens ... a majority of whom support EU accession."

On Wednesday Republika Srpska’s (RS) regional parliament ordered Serb representatives in state institutions to obstruct decision-making and reforms required for EU integration.

The move follows an ongoing trial of RS leader Milorad Dodik, the pro-Russian nationalist leader of RS, who faces prosecution for defying decisions by High Representative Christian Schmidt – the international official tasked with overseeing Bosnia’s post-war recovery.

Dayton agreement

Lawmakers described Dodik’s trial as politically motivated and argued they were established by the peace envoy rather than through the Dayton Peace Agreement.

The 1995 Dayton accords ended years of bloody conflict that killed tens of thousands. They split Bosnia into two autonomous regions – the Serb Republic and a Federation shared by Croats and Bosniaks – under weak central government oversight.

Republika Srpska lawmakers have increasingly resisted this arrangement, with Dodik leading efforts to assert greater independence.

Among their resolutions, lawmakers requested that Dodik, who recently had surgery in Serbia, avoid court appearances until medically cleared.

The moves by RS lawmakers has heightened ongoing tensions between Bosnia's two regions.

Brussels recommends opening EU membership talks with Bosnia Srebrenica remembers victims following Mladic arrest

Ongoing sanctions

The political crisis has been deepened by increased pressure on Dodik's circle by the United States. On 18 December, Washington sanctioned four people and four entities from RS, including Bosnia's Foreign Trade Minister Stasa Kosarac, for allegedly helping Dodik's family dodge earlier restrictions.

These sanctions are part of broader efforts to address what Washington views as destabilising actions in the region.

The crisis has added to the Balkans’ volatile dynamics. Earlier this month, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited Sarajevo, meeting with Bosnian officials despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between the two nations.

The visit drew criticism from Bosnia’s Serb leaders, further straining relations.

EU accession?

The European Council opened accession talks with Bosnia-Herzegovina in March after authorities met key requirements set by the European Commission.

But tensions between Bosnia's regions remain high, echoing divisions that date to the 1990s war when Bosnian Serb forces, led by Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic – both later convicted of war crimes – orchestrated the killing of some 8,000 Bosnians.

The Washington-based Carnegie Endowment has warned that “progress on the EU track is no remedy for the chronic crisis besetting Bosnian politics”, describing Dodik as “a thorn in the side of the West”.

As Sarajevo works to address these challenges, the focus remains on whether the country’s leaders can bridge the political divide and keep Bosnia on the path to European integration.