Greenland, Danish Officials Met Vance, Rubio as Trump Insists on US Control of Island/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. officials met with Denmark and Greenland leaders as Trump escalates demands for American control of Greenland. Trump insists NATO should back the acquisition, despite Greenland’s strong resistance. The island’s leaders reaffirm loyalty to Denmark, citing sovereignty and regional security.
Trump’s Greenland Push Quick Looks
- Trump reignites calls for U.S. control of Greenland, calling it “vital” to national security.
- VP JD Vance and Secretary Marco Rubio meet Danish and Greenlandic ministers in Washington.
- Trump claims NATO should help secure the island or risk Russian or Chinese influence.
- Greenlanders publicly push back, emphasizing autonomy and benefits of being part of Denmark.
- Denmark deploys military units to the Arctic amid growing geopolitical pressure.
- French government joins European allies defending Greenland’s sovereignty.
- U.S. congressional delegation set to visit Copenhagen for diplomatic talks.
Greenland, Danish Officials Met Vance, Rubio as Trump Insists on US Control of Island
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tensions over U.S. ambitions to control Greenland reignited on Wednesday as high-level officials from Denmark and Greenland convened with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. The meeting followed President Donald Trump’s renewed public demand that the U.S. take control of Greenland — a semi-autonomous Danish territory — for national security reasons, even suggesting NATO should spearhead the acquisition.
Trump, doubling down on a controversial stance first introduced during his earlier presidency, posted on his social media platform that the U.S. “needs Greenland” for strategic defense, citing the threat of Russian and Chinese influence. “NATO should be leading the way for us to get it,” Trump wrote, insisting that any outcome short of U.S. control is “unacceptable.”
Shortly after his post, Greenland’s diplomatic mission in North America clapped back on social media: “Why don’t you ask us?” — a pointed reminder of the island’s autonomy. Public sentiment in Greenland remains firmly opposed to joining the U.S., with residents citing deep ties to Denmark and the European Union.
On the snow-dusted streets of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, locals have voiced growing frustration over what they perceive as foreign interference.
“I hope the Americans back off,” said Tuuta Mikaelsen, a 22-year-old student interviewed by The Associated Press. Many Greenlanders echo this sentiment, fearful of losing their generous welfare system, education support, and healthcare benefits provided by Denmark.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen also weighed in firmly from Copenhagen, stating, “If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the EU.” Trump, when asked about Nielsen’s comments, dismissed them, saying, “I don’t know who he is… but that’s going to be a big problem for him.”
Trump’s claims rest on Greenland’s growing strategic value. As Arctic ice recedes due to climate change, the region is opening new trade routes to Asia and revealing critical mineral deposits — including rare earth elements essential to modern technology. The U.S. already has a military presence on the island, notably at Thule Air Base, but Trump argues this isn’t enough.
He claims Greenland is vital for the U.S. Golden Dome missile defense program and essential for countering Russian and Chinese naval threats in the Arctic. However, local residents and Arctic experts remain skeptical. “The only Chinese I see is at the fast-food market,” quipped Lars Vintner, a local heating engineer. His friend Hans Nørgaard called Trump’s rhetoric “just fantasy.”
Denmark has responded to the growing crisis by bolstering its Arctic military footprint. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced Wednesday the deployment of new military units, vessels, and aircraft to Greenland, including support from NATO allies. The move is part of a broader push to assert Danish and allied presence in the Arctic region.
The diplomatic flurry continues beyond Washington. Later this week, Løkke Rasmussen, Motzfeldt, and Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S. will meet with members of the Arctic Caucus in Congress. A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation will also travel to Copenhagen for further talks with Danish and Greenlandic officials.
European allies have swiftly sided with Denmark. Last week, EU powers joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in a joint statement asserting that Greenland belongs to its people, and that only Denmark and Greenland have the authority to decide their future.
France took an even bolder step. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced plans to open a French consulate in Greenland on February 6, stating on French radio, “Attacking another NATO member would make no sense… this blackmail must obviously stop.”
Greenlanders fear that U.S. involvement would jeopardize their social safety net and environmental stability. “I don’t want the U.S. to take that away from us,” said Mikaelsen, pointing to the benefits she enjoys as a Danish citizen.
For now, the standoff between U.S. ambitions and Greenland’s sovereignty continues to unfold — with diplomatic, military, and media attention all converging on the icy Arctic island.
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