Acknowledges they were unable to change the US position, but describes the meeting as “frank” and “constructive”
Rasmussen states there is "profound disagreement" on the island's status
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen announced on Wednesday the creation of a high-level working group to find a “common solution” to disagreements with the United States over Greenland after a meeting between the US, Danish, and Greenlandic delegations at the White House ended without an agreement.
“We have decided to form a high-level working group to explore whether we can find a common solution. In our view, the group should focus on how to address US security concerns while respecting Denmark’s ‘red lines’,” he explained in statements to the press.
The minister, who described the discussions at the White House as “frank” and “constructive,” detailed that the group will meet “in a matter of weeks.” “Our goal (with the meeting) was to reach a common understanding and begin more in-depth work to achieve results,” he said.
He also stressed that Denmark “continues to believe that the long-term security of Greenland can be guaranteed within the current framework.” “For us, ideas that do not respect the territorial integrity of Denmark or the right to self-determination of the Greenlandic people are, of course, completely unacceptable,” he asserted.
The head of Danish diplomacy reiterated several times during the press conference that the meeting took place in a “constructive atmosphere.” “We had the opportunity to challenge the narrative presented by the US president,” he indicated, acknowledging that they had not managed to change Donald Trump’s position, who has a “desire to acquire Greenland.”
“PROFOUND DISAGREEMENT”
Rasmussen thus affirmed that they have a “profound disagreement” with Washington. “But we have also agreed to disagree,” he said, adding that “it’s not easy to think innovatively about solutions when you wake up every morning to new threats.”
On the other hand, he noted that there is a “new security situation in the Arctic,” although he made it clear that it was the United States’ decision to drastically reduce the number of its military personnel stationed in Greenland over the years.
Similarly, he stated that it is not true that there are Chinese warships around the island, although they understand Washington’s concerns. “According to our intelligence services, there hasn’t been a Chinese warship near Greenland for approximately a decade,” he said, also assuring that “there is no immediate threat” from Beijing or Moscow.
For her part, Greenland’s Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, explained that the meeting served to “be able to talk” and address “differences.” “It is in everyone’s interest to find the right balance,” she said, urging stronger cooperation as allies.
The White House published a provocative image on its social media account a few hours ago, urging Greenland—personified by two dogs—to choose between a life with the United States and a life with Russia and China.
The meeting, which lasted about an hour, was attended by Rasmussen and Motzfeldt, as well as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The high-ranking officials were accompanied by their advisors and ambassadors.
Trump insisted this Wednesday that Washington’s control of Greenland “is vital for the ‘Golden Dome'” that the North American country is building, a missile defense shield similar to Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ that was unveiled by the White House in May 2025.
Trump’s expansionist aspirations regarding Greenland have been a constant since he returned to the White House a year ago. Under the pretext of national security, citing the presence of Chinese and Russian ships in the region, the U.S. president has been demanding control of the island.
In March of last year, during a visit considered hostile by both Greenlanders and Danes, the U.S. vice president, speaking from the Pituffik base, accused Copenhagen of failing to adequately ensure the island’s security.
