The one word that said it all after Denmark’s talks with US over Greenland

London: Greenland and Denmark have drawn a “red line” against American ownership of the Arctic island in face-to-face talks in Washington, just hours after US President Donald Trump stepped up his demands for the territory on social media.

A new working group will be formed to try to break the impasse over security concerns in the far north – with the US, Denmark and Greenland joining – but the high-stakes meeting highlighted the formal rejection of Trump’s claims.

The Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers described the talks as constructive when they emerged from the meeting with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, but they admitted that problems were not solved.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, a former prime minister, said he had not expected a solution at the meeting and that the disagreements remained after the talks.

“We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland,” he said.

“We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the kingdom.”

Rasmussen said three-quarters of people in Greenland did not support the US claims and the Greenland government had indicated it wanted to remain within the Kingdom of Denmark.

“This is a common position, that we want to work with our American friends and allies, but it must be respectful co-operation, and it must respect the red lines,” he said.

Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said there were ways to address US concerns about security in the Arctic, but she rejected the proposal for US ownership.

“We are allies. We are friends. We have been co-operating [for] many, many years,” she said at a press conference in the US capital after the meeting with Vance and Rubio.

“We have history together. So it’s all our interest to find the right balances.”

Rasmussen’s use of the word “conquer” to describe the US proposal highlights the concern in Denmark, Greenland and their European neighbours about the suggestion that the US might use force to get the territory, an option Trump has not ruled out.

Trump did not attend the meeting with the Danish and Greenlandic ministers but responded to the talks by suggesting there would be a way to settle the issue.

“Greenland is very important for the national security, including of Denmark,” the president said in the hours after Vance and Rubio held the talks.

“There’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland. But there’s everything we can do.”

Trump said the US had a “very good” relationship with Denmark and he would be briefed on the meeting. He added: “I think something will work out.”

The leaders of Germany, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland issued a statement last week backing Denmark, in a move also supported by Canada.

NATO allies are stepping up their commitments in the Arctic in the wake of Trump’s complaints that European member states are not doing enough on defence.

Germany plans to send soldiers to Greenland this week, a government spokesperson told Reuters.

Sweden and Norway have announced similar moves as part of a joint military operation called Arctic Endurance to highlight the commitment to Greenland by NATO members in Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced late on Wednesday (French time) that France would also join Arctic Endurance and the first military personnel were on their way at Denmark’s request. France will open a consulate in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, next month.

The future of the NATO alliance is at stake if Trump seeks to take Greenland by force, given Denmark is a member of the alliance.

Hours before the meeting, Trump stepped up his claims to Greenland and suggested NATO members tell Denmark to agree to American control.

“NATO should be leading the way for us to get it,” he said. “NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES. Anything less than that is unacceptable.”

Trump also referred to the existing defence of Greenland as “two dogsleds” and argued that only the US could ensure its security.

Some Greenlanders said they were anxious about Trump’s remarks, although others said they did not think the president would launch US military action over the issue.

“We are allies, and I don’t think he’s going to do it,” said Kristian Bernhardtsen, 47, a crane operator who spoke to this masthead in Nuuk.

Like others, Bernhardtsen said he did not object to the US expanding its military facilities in Greenland – including a space base at Pituffik, formerly known as Thule, which is important for monitoring missile launches.

“It doesn’t make sense saying that he needs Greenland,” Bernhardtsen said.

“He can have bases. We have a base up north, and if he wants to expand it or make other military installations, he’s allowed to. There’s nothing stopping him.”

Denmark ruled Greenland from the early 1800s and still funds many of its services, although the island is now an autonomous region of 57,000 people with their own government. The Kingdom of Denmark encompasses Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Denmark itself.

With Reuters

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