Denmark’s foreign minister said Jan. 14 that the U.S. and Denmark remain in “fundamental disagreement” over Greenland following White House talks with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, even as both sides agreed to continue dialogue through a new high-level working group, according to AP News.
The meeting, which included Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, lasted less than an hour and concluded without a public readout. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen announced afterward that a working group would focus on addressing U.S. security concerns “while at the same time respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark,” AP News reported.
Rasmussen said Denmark made clear during the talks that U.S. interest in taking control of Greenland remains unacceptable, according to the outlet.
“It remains clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland,” he said, “And we made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the kingdom.”
Despite what Rasmussen described as a “fundamental disagreement” over sovereignty and self-determination, Danish and U.S. officials agreed to keep communication open and continue discussions through the working group.
In the hours before the White House meetings, Motzfeldt said as she arrived in Washington, “Greenland does not want to be owned by, governed by, or part of the United States. We choose the Greenland we know today – as part of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
His Royal Highness Brigadier General Prince Joachim & @GreenlandRepDC welcomes
Minister for Foreign Affairs & Research Vivian Motzfeldt to Washington DC.
cooperate w. mutual respect, respect for democracy &international law – together we stand strong.
“Greenland does… pic.twitter.com/XkDfA74nIz— Greenland in USA&CDA
The day before the meetings, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated in Copenhagen that Greenland “does not want to be owned by the USA,” “does not want to be governed by the USA,” and “will not be part of the USA,” adding that the territory intends to remain within the Kingdom of Denmark and NATO.
President Donald Trump dismissed Nielsen’s remarks in Jan. 13 comments to reporters.
“Well, that’s their problem,” Trump said. “I disagree with him. I don’t know who he is, don’t know anything about him, but that’s going to be a big problem for him.”
Trump reiterated his position in a Jan. 14 post on Truth Social, writing, “The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security.” He added that the territory is “vital for the Golden Dome that we are building,” and that NATO “should be leading the way for us to get it.”
Trump also warned: “IF WE DON’T, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!”
Trump went on to argue that NATO would not be an effective military deterrent without U.S. power, and said the alliance would become “far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” concluding, “Anything less than that is unacceptable.”
The White House also posted a cartoon on X Jan. 14 depicting Greenland’s “choices,” with paths toward the U.S. versus Russia and China.
Trump told reporters Jan. 11 when he was asked whether there is a deal Greenland could offer, “It’s easier. But one way or the other, we’re going to have Greenland.”
Denmark and Greenland are increasing their military presence in the Arctic. Danish-led NATO exercises are planned for 2026, and Swedish forces arrived in Greenland Tuesday to participate. No military action has occurred, and European leaders have warned that any attempt to seize Greenland would damage NATO.
Estimated acquisition costs via negotiation range from $500 to $700 billion, by some estimates. The $700 billion price tag is an estimate crunched by scholars and former U.S. officials for planning purposes, and is more than half the Defense Department’s annual budget, according to NBC.
The post After White House talks, Denmark notes ‘fundamental disagreement’ with US over Greenland appeared first on CatholicVote org.