The foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark met with the US Secretary of State to find a solution to the Greenland dispute, with Denmark acknowledging that their views remain divergent.
On Wednesday, 15 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen visited Washington, D.C., USA, to hold talks with US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to seek a resolution regarding Greenland.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated over recent months that the US needs to acquire Greenland, which is a self-governing territory of Denmark, citing security reasons and not ruling out the use of military force to take control.
After a White House press conference, Rasmussen said the discussions were straightforward and constructive, but the US and Denmark appear to differ on Greenland's future. He noted President Trump has clearly expressed his position, but Denmark holds a "different stance."
"We still have fundamental disagreements, but we will continue talking," Rasmussen said, adding that the US buying Greenland is "not absolutely necessary."
Rasmussen told the media that Trump clearly wants to "take" Greenland, but in his view, this meeting has "already shifted the US position." He also announced the creation of an international joint working group to discuss future approaches, with meetings planned in the coming weeks.
Rasmussen revealed Denmark is considering ways to meet Trump's demands while respecting the "red lines" of the Kingdom of Denmark. "That is the work we will start; whether it can be done, I do not yet know," he said.
Denmark's foreign minister also stated that Denmark is ready to enhance security support for Greenland and rejected US claims that Greenland faces threats from China or Russia.
Motzfeldt said the US and Greenland need to return to "normal relations as we have had before," adding that finding balance and working together as allies benefits both countries.
"We are allies. We are friends," she said, emphasizing that Greenland has "repeatedly made clear where our position stands."
.bbc