Denmark signals red lines after US discussions over Greenland
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Photo: Getty Images)
Denmark reported having constructive talks in Washington about the future of Greenland, warned the US about red lines, and urged all parties to keep a cool head, according to Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on Facebook.
Rasmussen said he did not expect a single trip to Washington to persuade the US administration to abandon its plans to control Greenland. At the same time, he emphasized that his goal was to start a genuine dialogue - and that this objective had been achieved.
“We had a constructive conversation with JD Vance and Marco Rubio and agreed on a process aimed at finding a way out of this complex situation,” the minister stated.
He emphasized that Copenhagen has clearly defined its position on the Kingdom’s sovereignty, calling it a red line. According to Rasmussen, Greenland cannot be bought or conquered, and any violation of this boundary would derail further negotiations.
“Now I ask all of us to keep a cool head and a warm heart. To try to look beyond the media noise and short messages and get started on the work we agreed to. We have made it clear that the Kingdom’s sovereignty is a ‘red line.’ Greenland cannot be bought or conquered. In 2026, we will trade between people, not people!” Rasmussen wrote.
At the same time, Denmark, the US, and Greenland agreed to establish a high-level working group to develop a joint approach for further discussions on the island.
Tensions between Denmark and the US over Greenland
On January 14, a meeting took place in Washington with Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Vice President JD Vance.
The meeting was initiated by Copenhagen after US President Donald Trump escalated statements about the potential establishment of control over Greenland.
Earlier, the White House leader had said that the US was ready to take Greenland by force if no agreement was reached.
Recently, Trump has repeatedly suggested that Greenland should become part of the US, claiming this is necessary for protection against Russia and China.
However, both Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, and Copenhagen oppose the island joining the US. Moreover, attempts by the US to seize Greenland, particularly by military means, are expected to undermine NATO, according to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Meanwhile, Europe is preparing for a potential confrontation with the US, conducting joint military exercises with Denmark in case Washington attempts to seize the island.
Allies are also preparing three plans to counter Trump’s ambitions, one of which assumes that the US president’s statements about Greenland are a strategic bluff aimed at securing concessions from Copenhagen.
