Denmark has said a fundamental disagreement remains with the United States over Greenland following high-level talks in Washington, held amid renewed calls by President Donald Trump for US control of the Arctic island.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the discussions with senior US officials were frank but constructive, while stressing that Denmark rejects any proposal that undermines its sovereignty or Greenland’s right to self-determination.
“I’m not saying anything is solved. It’s not solved,” Rasmussen told reporters after the meeting. He said ideas that do not respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark or the rights of the Greenlandic people are totally unacceptable.
The talks were led on the US side by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They followed comments by Trump on social media, arguing that Greenland should come under US control for national security reasons. Trump claimed NATO would be far more effective with Greenland in American hands and suggested the alliance could not function without US military power.
Rasmussen travelled to Washington with Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt to argue that a US takeover of the semi-autonomous Danish territory is unnecessary. Danish media described the meeting as one of the most significant diplomatic moments for the kingdom since World War II.
At the same time, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced plans to permanently strengthen Denmark’s military presence in the Arctic, including expanded exercises with NATO allies. Sweden said it would send officers to Greenland at Denmark’s request, while the UK and Germany also plan limited deployments.
Trump has publicly questioned Denmark’s military capabilities, insisting that only the United States can deter Russia and China in the region. He has also linked Greenland to his proposed missile defence system.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has ruled out joining the US and said Greenlanders would choose to remain within the Danish kingdom. Danish officials note that a 1951 defence agreement already grants the US broad military access to Greenland and insist the territory is not for sale.