Trump still wants to conquer Greenland – Denmark Foreign Minister

Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, says talks in Washington failed to shift President Donald Trump’s determination to take control of Greenland, despite appeals from Copenhagen and Nuuk.

US President Donald Trump restated his position on Wednesday, arguing that the United States must “own” Greenland for national security reasons.

Speaking during an Oval Office event, he questioned Denmark’s ability to defend the Arctic territory if faced with pressure from Russia or China.

“Greenland is very important for the national security, including of Denmark,” Trump told reporters. “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.”

His comments came as Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt wrapped up meetings in Washington with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. The talks were aimed at easing rising tensions over Greenland’s future.

“We didn’t manage to change the American position,” Rasmussen admitted afterward. “It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland.”

Rather than resolving disagreements, the meetings ended with an agreement to form a working group to continue discussions on Arctic security and governance. Rasmussen said the group should address US security concerns “while at the same time respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

Motzfeldt said Greenland was open to cooperation with Washington but firmly rejected any suggestion of annexation. She stressed that collaboration does not mean the territory wants to be “owned by the United States.”

Greenland’s government representation in the US and Canada also pushed back publicly, calling for Indigenous voices to be respected. “Why don’t you ask us, kalaallit?” the office posted on X, noting that only six percent of Greenlanders supported joining the US in the last poll.

European allies have offered expanded security cooperation in the Arctic, citing concerns about growing Russian and Chinese activity. Those assurances, however, have not softened Trump’s stance.

The US already maintains a military base in Greenland with about 150 personnel, and existing agreements allow for expansion. According to Al Jazeera correspondent Alan Fisher, Denmark and Greenland are willing to discuss a larger US presence.

“But Donald Trump says that unless it’s under US control, then anything less is unacceptable,” Fisher reported.