Denmark and US Clash Over Greenland as Trump Reiterates Takeover Ambitions

Denmark’s foreign minister has acknowledged a deep rift with the United States over the future of Greenland, following high-level talks at the White House that failed to resolve growing tensions over the strategically vital Arctic territory.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen said there was a “fundamental disagreement” between Copenhagen and Washington after an hour-long meeting on Wednesday with US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While the discussions were “frank but constructive,” Rasmussen said US President Donald Trump continued to insist on the idea of “conquering” Greenland an approach Denmark considers unacceptable.

“We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of Denmark,” Rasmussen told reporters, adding that there were clear “red lines” the United States could not cross.

The meeting, which also included representatives from Greenland, did not produce a major breakthrough. However, all sides agreed to establish a high-level working group that will meet in the coming weeks to discuss the future of the autonomous Danish territory and explore possible areas of compromise.

Despite the disagreement, Rasmussen said Denmark and Greenland were open to increased US military cooperation, including the possibility of additional American bases on the island. “It’s productive to start discussions at a high level,” he said.

Greenland, though sparsely populated, occupies a crucial strategic position between North America and the Arctic. Its location makes it well suited for early-warning missile defence systems and for monitoring maritime activity in the region. Trump has repeatedly argued that acquiring Greenland is vital to US national security, particularly as Washington seeks to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic.

The United States already maintains a military presence on the island, with more than 100 personnel stationed at the Pituffik Space Base in north-west Greenland, a facility operated by the US since World War Two. Under existing agreements with Denmark, the US is permitted to deploy additional troops to the territory if it chooses.

Rasmussen acknowledged there was “an element of truth” in Trump’s argument that Arctic security needs strengthening, but rejected the president’s claims that Russian and Chinese warships were operating around Greenland. “That is not true,” he said.

Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt echoed Denmark’s position, saying the territory was open to deeper cooperation with Washington but firmly opposed any takeover. “We have shown where our limits are,” she said after the talks.

US officials Vance and Rubio did not immediately comment following the meeting. Trump, however, doubled down on his position, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “We need Greenland for national security.”

“The problem is 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, adding that he did not believe the US could rely on Denmark alone to defend the island.

Trump has also linked Greenland to his proposed missile defence initiative, known as the “Golden Dome,” arguing that control of the territory is essential to the system’s effectiveness. He has declined to rule out the use of military force to seize Greenland, while other options reportedly under consideration include purchasing the territory—an idea rejected by both Danish and Greenlandic leaders.

The dispute has prompted swift reactions from European allies, many of whom have moved to demonstrate support for Denmark and Greenland. Sweden announced it would send armed forces to the territory at Denmark’s request. Germany said it would dispatch a reconnaissance team to assess conditions for potential military contributions to regional security.

The UK’s Defence Secretary, John Healey, confirmed that Britain would send a military officer to join the reconnaissance effort, while France announced plans to open a consulate in Greenland next month. French President Emmanuel Macron said France would also participate in the reconnaissance mission and that French military elements were already en route to the island.

Denmark said any military expansion in Greenland would take place “in close co-operation with allies,” noting that “geopolitical tensions have spread to the Arctic.”

Public opinion appears to be firmly against a US takeover. Polls suggest a majority of Greenlanders oppose coming under American control, while a recent Reuters/Ipsos survey found that only 17% of Americans support the US seizing Greenland, compared with 47% who oppose the idea.

The Greenland talks come amid a broader period of heightened US military activity and assertive foreign policy moves, including recent operations in Venezuela and against ISIS targets in Syria, as well as threats of action against Iran. Against this backdrop, Washington’s renewed focus on Greenland has unsettled allies and raised fresh questions about the future of Arctic security and transatlantic relations.