A high-stakes diplomatic meeting at the White House has revealed profound divisions between the United States and Denmark regarding the future of Greenland, with Danish officials characterizing the disagreement as “fundamental” and “totally unacceptable.”
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen described Wednesday’s hour-long discussions with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “frank but constructive,” though he emphasized that President Trump’s persistent interest in “conquering” the autonomous Danish territory remained a critical point of contention. The meeting concluded without significant resolution, though all parties agreed to establish a high-level working group to continue discussions in the coming weeks.
“We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of [Denmark],” Rasmussen stated, noting the existence of “red lines” the United States cannot cross. While rejecting any notion of a takeover, Danish and Greenlandic officials indicated openness to expanded military cooperation, including potential additional US bases on the strategically vital island.
The Trump administration’s pursuit of Greenland stems from its assessment of the territory’s crucial importance to national security. Located between North America and the Arctic, Greenland offers strategic advantages for early warning systems against missile attacks and monitoring regional vessel traffic. The US maintains approximately 100 permanent military personnel at its Pituffik base in northwestern Greenland, a facility operational since World War II under existing agreements with Denmark that permit unlimited troop deployment.
Following the meeting, European allies demonstrated swift support for Denmark’s position. Sweden pledged to deploy armed forces to Greenland at Denmark’s request, while France announced plans to open a consulate on the island next month. Germany committed to sending a reconnaissance team to explore potential military contributions to regional security efforts.
President Trump reiterated his position to reporters in the Oval Office, stating, “We need Greenland for national security.” He expressed skepticism about Denmark’s ability to defend the territory from potential Russian or Chinese influence, adding, “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.”
The administration’s focus on Greenland follows recent military actions against Venezuela and ISIS in Syria, alongside threats of intervention in Iran. Public opinion surveys indicate limited support for acquiring Greenland, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing only 17% of Americans favor seizing the territory, while 47% oppose Trump’s efforts.