Europe’s dismissal of US President Donald Trump’s request to acquire Greenland has created a pathway for a potentially amicable resolution, according to Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M).
This statement follows a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, where Greenland was a key topic.
“I provided an update on our current position in a secure, mobile-free environment, so I can’t share specific details,” Løkke Rasmussen noted.
He expressed gratitude to other EU nations for their support towards Denmark and Greenland.
“Primarily, I’ve taken this opportunity to thank them for their strong solidarity, which has been crucial,” he said.
“I have no doubt that we have returned to a point where we can engage in civilized negotiations with the Americans, partly because Europe said no,” Løkke emphasized.
He also highlighted that US lawmakers have categorically rejected Trump’s proposals regarding Greenland’s annexation.
“The American business sector and stock market have responded as well. I believe various factors contributed to the American president stating that the agreement made with Rubio and Vance is our guiding principle,” he added.
This refers to a significant meeting in Washington in mid-January, where Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, met with US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
During that meeting, they agreed to establish a working group that aligns with US security interests while respecting Denmark and Greenland’s decision against American annexation.
The first meeting of this working group took place on Wednesday with representatives from the Danish and Greenlandic sides at the permanent secretary level, alongside officials from the US State Department and the vice president’s office.
“The discussions were constructive, and it has been agreed that they will reconvene,” Løkke mentioned.
While he refrained from disclosing specific details from the meeting, he stressed that Denmark shares the US’s security concerns in the Arctic, particularly regarding increased Russian and Chinese presence.
Denmark is prepared to update its 1951 defense agreement with the US concerning Greenland to seek a resolution.
“The 1951 agreement is quite old. At that time, drones and space matters were nonexistent, making the world very different,” he remarked.
“However, it provides a robust legal framework that serves as our starting point,” Løkke Rasmussen added.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated that the ministers discussed strengthening security in the Arctic and, by extension, Greenland. However, she noted that the discussions remain confidential, so she could not disclose specific EU plans.
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