Foreign policy was debated in the Chamber on Tuesday during a current affairs session requested by the Pirates and The Left. The discussion focused on US President Donald Trump’s renewed claims over Greenland, as well as Luxembourg’s position on recent developments in Venezuela.
According to Pirates MP Sven Clement and The Left’s David Wagner, who requested the session, the transatlantic relationship must be seriously reevaluated. For Clement, the debate over Greenland represents a crucial test for Europe.
“The danger is not an open conflict, but that we signal to the outside world that solidarity is suddenly negotiable. Greenland is a test case. Is territorial integrity within the alliance inviolable, or is it negotiable?” he asked.
David Wagner argued that the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the US constituted a clear violation of international law. Europe, he said, has sufficient means to exert pressure on Washington and must move away from what he described as blind Atlanticism.
However, governing parties struck a more nuanced tone overall. Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) parliamentary leader Laurent Zeimet acknowledged the criticism of Washington but emphasised the importance of preserving ties with the US.
“Over the past 80 years, we have been through a great deal together. We have often disagreed, whether under Obama or Bush, but we have never reached a point where we question the friendship itself. We certainly do not want to end that relationship”, he said.
Democratic Party (DP) MP Gusty Gras firmly rejected any US territorial claims over Greenland or Denmark, warning that such moves would have serious implications for the future of NATO.
The sharpest criticism came from the opposition benches, as Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) MP Yves Cruchten criticised the government for what he saw as a lack of clarity in its response to events in Venezuela.
“It is a violation of international law by the United States. Full stop. Too many governments hide behind diplomatic language to avoid naming who is breaking the rules. Unfortunately, our government’s statement does the same.”
Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel called for European unity and underlined the importance of adhering to international law in both cases. “We are a small country on the world map. If international law can simply be trampled on and we all accept it, that poses a direct threat to countries like Luxembourg. International law is our strongest safeguard”, he said.
Bettel added that continued cooperation among international partners matters, warning that divisions would only benefit the Kremlin.
