President Trump on Wednesday said the U.S. must take control of Greenland to build its Golden Dome missile-defense system and become an effective deterrent to China and Russia, and anything less is “unacceptable.”
Mr. Trump laid down his marker in a social media post hours before Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt met with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to find a way forward as Mr. Trump threatens to take over the Arctic island.
“It’s clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland. We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interests of the kingdom,” Mr. Rasmussen told reporters.
He said the Denmark–Greenland team and the U.S. side had to “agree to disagree” during a “frank, but constructive,” meeting.
However, they agreed to form a working group to address American needs while respecting “red lines” set by Denmark.
Proposals “that would not respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are, of course, totally unacceptable,” he said.
“We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree,” he said.
Ms. Motzfeldt said she hopes to reach a “mutual understanding” that works out for all sides.
Later Wednesday, Mr. Trump said the U.S. has a good relationship with Denmark.
But he repeated his concerns about Russia and China, saying the Danes could not fend them off if they occupied Greenland.
“We’re gonna see what happens, but we need it,” Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office. “I think something will work out.”
Earlier, he seemed to leave little room for negotiation in social media comments aimed at European leaders who believe Denmark, a NATO member, must maintain control of Greenland.
Mr. Trump says Greenland is vital to U.S. national security and his plans to build a Golden Dome, a system designed to protect America from ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles launched by enemies.
“NATO should be leading the way for us to get [Greenland]. If we don’t, Russia or China will, and that is not going to happen!” Mr. Trump said in his post, using his all-capital letters style.
“NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the United States,” he added. “Anything less than that is unacceptable.”
The official X account of Greenland Representation to the U.S. & Canada pointed to recent polling that found only 6% of Greenlanders wanted to become a part of the U.S.
“Why don’t you ask us?” they wrote in a message directed at Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump has pushed for the annexation of Greenland for years, though the plan’s been stuck in neutral.
His bold raid to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro put Greenland back in the spotlight. The U.S. president is making aggressive moves in the Western Hemisphere as part of his “Don-roe Doctrine.”
The Russian ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, told TV2 channel that Moscow wants to avoid escalating tensions in the Arctic.
“Russia does not harbor aggressive plans against its Arctic neighbors, does not threaten them with military action, and does not seek to seize their territory. To successfully develop its Arctic potential, Russia is interested in stability and good relations between states in the Arctic,” the ambassador said.
Greenland is largely independent, but Denmark retains control over most of its defense and foreign policy.
The island nation can declare full independence through a law, but political factions disagree on how to separate from Denmark.
Denmark has ruled or co-ruled the island for longer than the United States has existed as an independent nation.
Mr. Rubio recently said Mr. Trump’s preferred route of action is to purchase Greenland from the Danes.
However, the White House’s refusal to rule out military actions is making Europe and U.S. lawmakers skittish.
A Quinnipiac University poll on Wednesday found Americans overwhelmingly oppose using military force to take Greenland, 86% to 9%. A majority, 55%, said they would also oppose a U.S. attempt to buy Greenland, while 37% would support it.
On Tuesday, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen cast the international debate over his country’s future as an existential choice between two masters.
“We face a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the U.S. and Denmark here and now, then we choose Denmark,” Mr. Nielsen said. “We stand united in the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Denmark is bulking up its presence near Greenland with troops and aircraft.
“Not dog sleds, but ships, drones, fighter jets, etc. And we are definitely ready to do more,” Mr. Rasmussen said. “The U.S. already has wide military access to Greenland.”
On Wednesday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said his country sent several officers from the Swedish Armed Forces to participate in military exercises in the Arctic.
“They are part of a group from several allied countries,” he said on X. “It is at Denmark’s request that Sweden is sending personnel from the Armed Forces.”
Mr. Trump and his GOP allies are undeterred.
Rep. Randy Fine, Florida Republican, introduced the Greenland Annexation and Statehood Act on Monday to take control of the island.
“Greenland is not a distant outpost we can afford to ignore — it is a vital national security asset,” Mr. Fine said. “Whoever controls Greenland controls key Arctic shipping lanes and the security architecture protecting the United States. America cannot leave that future in the hands of regimes that despise our values and seek to undermine our security.”
On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum posted a graphic on X that said, “The New Interior,” and showed flight times of 6.5 hours from Washington to Nuuk, Greenland, and 7.5 hours from Washington to Anchorage, Alaska.
The White House account piled on with a graphic that showed a dogsled with Greenland flags being forced to choose between a path to the U.S. and a path toward China and Russia.
“Which way, Greenland man?” the post said.
Some Republicans have urged Mr. Trump to pull back from his Greenland threats, saying it threatens the progress he made in getting NATO members to spend more on mutual defense.
“The Danes have been close partners in the Arctic since World War II,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican. “There’s no ambiguity here. Close ties with our northernmost allies are what make America’s extensive reach in the Arctic actually possible.”
• Mary McCue Bell and Vaughn Cockayne contributed to this story.
