Trump repeats national security rhetoric as Danish officials fail to convince US to abandon Greenland ambition

After a high-stakes meeting between officials from the United States and Denmark, US President Donald Trump reiterated on Wednesday that Greenland is "crucial" for American national security. Trump went on to question Denmark’s capability of defending the overseas territory from countries like China and Russia.

The remarks from the American leader reflected that fundamental differences remain between the three sides even after the meeting. “Greenland is very important for the national security, including that of Denmark,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “And 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. You found that out last week with Venezuela,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Danish foreign minister said that Trump remains intent on “conquering” Greenland as the talks with US officials failed to solve a “fundamental disagreement” that has led to unprecedented tensions between Washington and a Nato ally. It was “absolutely not necessary” for the US to seize Greenland, a largely self-governing part of the Danish kingdom, the Danish foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, said late on Wednesday.

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“We didn’t manage to change the American position. It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering Greenland. And we made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of the kingdom," he added. Rasmussen went on to urge Washington to engage in “respectful” cooperation over the Arctic island that is controlled by Copenhagen.

Europe comes in Denmark’s support

Meanwhile, in a signal of European support, France, Germany and Norway have all said that they would contribute troops to a multinational force led by Denmark that would lead to “an increased military presence in and around Greenland, comprising aircraft, vessels and soldiers, including from Nato allies”, the Danish defence ministry has said in a statement.

The two sides did agree to create a working group to discuss ways to work through differences as Trump continues to call for a US takeover of the semi-autonomous territory of Nato ally Denmark. “The group, in our view, should focus on how to address the American security concerns, while at the same time respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark,” Rasmussen told reporters after joining Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, for the talks.

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The closely watched talks on Trump’s demands to take over Greenland concluded after nearly an hour. US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday in what observers worried could be an ambush meant to pressure the Danes into ceding the territory.

Before the meeting, Trump said it would be “unacceptable” for Greenland to be “in the hands” of any country other than the US, reiterating his demand to take over the island hours before the high-stakes talks on its future.

“The US needs Greenland for national security. Nato should be leading the way for us to get it,” the US president said on social media. The alliance would become “far more formidable and effective” with the territory under US control, he claimed. “It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building,” he said, referring to a proposed missile defence system. Overall, the issue continues to remain unresolved.