In a firm diplomatic rebuttal, Danish and Greenlandic officials have categorically denied former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims regarding significant Chinese military and economic presence in Greenland. The denial came during high-level talks at the White House on January 14, 2026, where both Nordic representatives confronted what they characterized as a false narrative driving American aspirations to control the Arctic territory.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, accompanied by Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, engaged in an hour-long discussion with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting marked the first direct diplomatic exchange since Trump’s administration renewed assertions that China and Russia pose imminent threats to Greenland’s sovereignty, thereby justifying potential U.S. intervention.
“We had a great opportunity to go up against the narrative because it is not true that we have Chinese warships all around the place,” Rasmussen stated emphatically. “According to our intelligence, we haven’t had a Chinese warship in Greenland for a decade. There are no Chinese warships along the coast of Greenland, nor are there any massive Chinese investments.”
The Danish minister described the atmosphere during talks as “frank and constructive” but noted that fundamental disagreements persisted regarding Greenland’s status. Rasmussen explicitly countered Trump’s position: “It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering Greenland. We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the Kingdom.”
Greenland’s Foreign Minister Motzfeldt emphasized that boundaries had been clearly defined during the discussions, expressing optimism about future dialogue despite the unresolved tensions.
The diplomatic confrontation occurred against the backdrop of Trump’s social media pronouncements, where he asserted that “NATO should be leading the way for us to get Greenland” for national security purposes, warning that otherwise Russia or China would control the territory.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning previously addressed the matter, stating that “China’s activities in the Arctic are aimed at promoting the peace, stability and sustainable development of the region” in accordance with international law. The spokesperson added that the U.S. should not “use other countries as a pretext for seeking selfish gains.”
Supporting the Nordic position, the 2025 Chicago Council Survey revealed that 91% of Americans oppose using military force to annex Greenland, indicating limited public support for Trump’s territorial ambitions.