A high-level meeting held at the White House between American and Danish officials on Wednesday ended without an agreement on the future of Greenland, with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen describing the dispute as "fundamental," stressing his country's firm rejection of any American attempts to seize the Arctic island.
Details of the heated meeting
The meeting, which lasted less than 90 minutes, saw a strong diplomatic presence, with Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motseveldt participating, and on the American side, Vice President Jay D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Following the meeting, Rasmussen told reporters, "We were unable to change the American position. It is clear that the President has a desire to control Greenland, and we made it very clear that this is not in the Kingdom's interest.".
In contrast, US President Donald Trump downplayed the diplomatic tension, describing the relationship with Denmark as "very good" and expressing optimism about reaching an agreement in the future, despite his insistence on his position.
The strategic and geopolitical importance of Greenland
American interest in Greenland is not a recent development, but rather based on established geopolitical realities. The island occupies a vital strategic location between the Arctic and the Atlantic Ocean, making it the United States' first line of defense against any potential missile threats emanating from the Arctic. The island already hosts Thule Air Base, the northernmost U.S. military base, which plays a pivotal role in the ballistic missile early warning system and space surveillance.
In this context, Trump stressed that US control of the island is essential for what he called the "golden dome" of the missile and air defense system, warning that the vacuum could be filled by rival powers such as Russia or China, which the Danish side denied, confirming that the island is free of any major Chinese investments.
Historical background of American ambitions
Historically, this was not Washington's first attempt to acquire the island. In 1946, President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold for Greenland, given its military importance during the Cold War. This interest has been renewed in recent years with the melting of Arctic ice, which has opened new shipping lanes and increased access to vast untapped natural resources, including rare earth minerals.
Sovereignty and the right to self-determination
For his part, the Danish minister emphasized that the United States already has a firmly established military presence and there is no need to seize the territory, describing the issue as an affront to the dignity and sovereignty of the people of Denmark and Greenland. Rasmussen added, "Ideas that do not respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of the people of Greenland to self-determination are absolutely unacceptable.".
In a preemptive move to reduce pressure, Copenhagen announced it would strengthen its military presence on the island, while at the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to form a joint committee to explore the possibility of reaching compromise solutions in the coming weeks, under the slogan "We agree to disagree.".
