Denmark's foreign minister has stated that there is a fundamental disagreement with the U.S. over Greenland following talks at the White House.
Lars Lokke Rasmussen indicated that the meeting with Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio was both frank but constructive. However, he expressed that U.S. President Trump’s insistence on acquiring Greenland, a territory rich in resources, was totally unacceptable.
Rasmussen emphasized, We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of [Denmark]. Trump's reiterated interest has caused apprehension among European allies and increased tensions within NATO.
The hour-long talks did not result in any decisive outcomes, but a commitment to establish a high-level working group to discuss Greenland's future was made. Rasmussen outlined that there are red lines that the U.S. must respect and mentioned that Denmark and Greenland were open to discussions about enhancing U.S. military presence on the island.
While acknowledging that there is truth in Trump's concerns regarding security threats posed by Russia and China in the Arctic, Rasmussen clarified that claims regarding the presence of Russian and Chinese warships near Greenland were not true.
The discussions occur at a time when Greenland's strategic position makes it valuable for defense operations, with the U.S. already maintaining a military base there for decades.
Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt reiterated a stance against any takeover of the territory, stating, We have shown where our limits are. Following the Trump administration's prior talks, Motzfeldt stressed that the territory is open to cooperation with the U.S. but firmly opposed to any annexation attempts.
In a broader context, European countries have swiftly expressed support for Denmark's position. Sweden announced it would dispatch armed forces at Denmark's request, while Germany and the UK contributed reconnaissance teams to assess military support for the region. France also plans to establish a consulate in Greenland, reflecting growing geopolitical tensions in the Arctic.
Public sentiment in Greenland is decidedly against coming under U.S. control, as highlighted in the latest polls indicating only a mere 6% support for such a shift. The narrative of Greenland's autonomy continues in stark contrast to U.S. interests, while both sides navigate a complex web of international relations regarding the territory.
