Greenland and Denmark request a meeting with Rubio to discuss Trump's remarks
In a significant development that brings renewed attention to US ambitions in the Arctic, Greenland's Foreign Minister, Viviane Motsefeldt, announced on Tuesday a joint diplomatic initiative with Denmark to counter President Donald Trump's statements regarding his intention to annex the island. Motsefeldt confirmed that the governments of Greenland and Denmark have formally requested an urgent meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the political and legal ramifications of these statements, which infringe upon national sovereignty.
Diplomatic move amid US indifference
Minister Motzfeldt explained in an official Facebook post that the main objective of the meeting was "to discuss the important and serious statements made by the United States regarding the future of Greenland." She revealed a state of diplomatic stalemate, noting that "to date, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not met with the Greenlandic government, despite repeated requests from the governments of Greenland and Denmark throughout 2025 for a meeting at the foreign minister level," raising questions about the future of relations between the three parties under the current US administration.
Strategic importance and historical background
This is not the first time the issue of the United States purchasing or annexing Greenland has been raised. The island enjoys a highly strategic geopolitical location in the Arctic, situated between North America and Europe, making it vital to US national security, especially given the presence of Thule Air Base. Historically, the United States attempted to purchase the island in 1946, and the proposal resurfaced strongly during the Trump administration in 2019. At the time, it was met with staunch rejection from Copenhagen and Nuuk, with the Danish Prime Minister deeming it an "absurd" idea.
The United States views Greenland not only as an advanced military base, but also as a strategic reserve of natural resources and rare minerals that are increasingly important in modern technological industries, which explains the renewed American insistence that is causing widespread concern in European circles.
Broad European solidarity
This announcement coincides with political activity within the Danish parliament to discuss the future relationship between the Kingdom of Denmark (which includes Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland) and the United States. Internationally, the issue has gained significant momentum, with major European powers, including France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom, issuing a joint statement expressing their full support for Denmark in the face of Trump's demands.
In a separate statement, the foreign ministers of the Nordic countries stressed that any issues relating to Greenland are an internal and exclusive matter to be resolved between Denmark and Greenland, rejecting any external interference that affects Danish territorial sovereignty, thus putting Washington in confrontation with a united European diplomatic front.
