Greenland and Denmark Say Trump Remains Set on ‘Conquering’ Territory After Talks
A high level meeting in Washington has done little to cool tensions between the United States, Denmark and Greenland, with officials emerging to say President Donald Trump remains determined to take control of the Arctic territory. “We didn’t manage to change the American position,” Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said after the talks. “It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland.” The meeting, which included senior US officials, had been seen as a chance to ease growing diplomatic strain following renewed interest from the White House in Greenland’s future. Instead, Rasmussen said a “fundamental disagreement” remains. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt also struck a firm tone, stressing that cooperation with Washington does not mean surrendering sovereignty. “We are ready to cooperate with the United States,” she said, “but that does not mean that the country wants to be owned by the United States.” President Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland is vital to US national and NATO security, pointing to its strategic location in the Arctic and its mineral resources. In a recent social media post, he wrote that NATO would be “far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the United States,” adding that “anything less than that is unacceptable.” Danish officials said the talks ended with an agreement to establish a working group aimed at addressing US security concerns, while respecting what Rasmussen described as Denmark’s “red lines.” The renewed rhetoric has unsettled Copenhagen, which has announced plans to strengthen its military presence in the Arctic and North Atlantic, framing the move as a defence of sovereignty rather than a challenge to Washington. For Greenland, a self governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, the message has been consistent. Partnership is welcome. Ownership is not. As allies digest the outcome of the meeting, the dispute has exposed rare and open friction within NATO, with no immediate sign that the standoff over Greenland’s future is nearing an end.
| 2026-01-15 08:01:02