U.S. Vice President JD Vance (L) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio be a part of President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron within the Oval Workplace on the White Home on February 24, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Photos Information | Getty Photos
The Trump administration is poised for crunch talks with Greenlandic and Danish officers on Wednesday, amid the U.S. president’s ongoing push to take management of Greenland.
Greenland International Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and her Danish counterpart, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, are anticipated to convene on the White Home for talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
U.S. President Donald Trump doubled down on his aggressive rhetoric shortly earlier than the high-stakes assembly. In a social media put up on Wednesday, the U.S. president stated something lower than Greenland turning into part of the US can be “unacceptable.”
“The US wants Greenland for the aim of Nationwide Safety. It’s vital for the Golden Dome that we’re constructing. NATO must be main the best way for us to get it,” Trump stated on Fact Social.
“NATO turns into way more formidable and efficient with Greenland within the fingers of the UNITED STATES. Something lower than that’s unacceptable,” he added. In a subsequent social media put up, Trump stated solely the U.S. might counter an alleged risk from Russia and China to the island.
His feedback come simply at some point after Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen portrayed a united entrance in opposition to Trump’s takeover threats.
Talking at a joint information convention in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Greenland’s Nielsen stated that if the self-governing Danish territory should select between the U.S. and Denmark, “we select Denmark.”
Frederiksen additionally stated it had not been straightforward to face as much as what she described as “fully unacceptable strain” from our closest ally. “However there’s a lot to counsel that the toughest half continues to be forward of us.”
Trump, who has lengthy coveted making Greenland part of the US, renewed his curiosity within the huge and mineral-rich Arctic island following an audacious U.S. army operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3.
Trump’s feedback have raised alarm in Denmark, which is accountable for the protection of Greenland, with Frederiksen cautioning {that a} U.S. assault would mark the tip of NATO.
Protection and sources
Ian Lesser, distinguished fellow at GMF, a Washington-based suppose tank, stated the stakes have been “very excessive” for the talks, warning that failure to resolve the diplomatic disaster “doesn’t simply threaten NATO cohesion, it threatens the long run existence of the Alliance as we all know it.”
The assembly will seemingly search to make clear the prospects for and potential contours of a negotiated settlement of the disaster, Lesser stated.
Greenland’s Head of Authorities (Naalakkersuisut) Jens-Frederik Nielsen (L) and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen give an announcement on the present state of affairs at a press convention within the Mirror Corridor on the Prime Minister’s Workplace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 13, 2026.
Liselotte Sabroe | Afp | Getty Photos
“There might be new European commitments to strengthening the defence of Greenland, and extra essential, the encompassing maritime area. There may additionally be parallel talks round new and preferential US entry to Greenland’s sources,” Lesser advised CNBC by electronic mail.
“Or, the assembly might finish in acrimony,” he added.
The prospect of a public fallout between U.S. and European officers on the White Home brings to thoughts a extremely contentious assembly between Trump, Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February final 12 months.
Trump and Vance accused Zelenskyy of a scarcity of respect because the assembly veered sharply off observe, devolving into a unprecedented shouting match stay on digicam.
‘A profound disaster’
Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, stated he doesn’t anticipate the U.S., Greenland and Denmark to have the ability to discover a diplomatic resolution on Wednesday, describing the state of affairs as “a profound disaster.”
“I feel there was a big change, I feel it was yesterday, when it was introduced in Washington that JD Vance, the vp, was going to take over the assembly,” Bildt advised CNBC’s “Europe Early Version” on Wednesday.
“It was scheduled to be with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has indicated a barely milder strategy, however JD Vance has, after all, been instantly insulting in the direction of Denmark and demanding very unusual issues,” Bildt stated.
“I anticipate a reasonably arduous assembly. I do not anticipate any decision. At greatest, I anticipate that they may provoke the method of talks of some type,” he added.
Bildt, who serves as co-chair of the European Council on International Relations suppose tank, referred to Vance’s remarks on the Munich Safety Convention in February final 12 months, saying his “quite extraordinary” evaluation of Europe was extra according to the “excessive proper” of the area.
“This isn’t the trans-Atlantic alliance we used to have,” he added.
What would a superb final result seem like?
Otto Svendsen, affiliate fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program on the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research, a Washington-based suppose tank, stated tensions between Greenland and Denmark have been put aside to current a united entrance in opposition to U.S. threats.
The White Home assembly, Svendsen stated, will present additional clues as to how dedicated your entire Trump administration is to buying Greenland — and the way deterred the administration is to threats of an entire breakdown in bilateral relations.
“An excellent final result for the Danes and Greenlanders can be an announcement that affirms Greenland’s sovereignty and place throughout the Kingdom. Something in need of that leaves the door open to continued threats and coercion,” Svendsen advised CNBC by electronic mail.
“In return, the Danish and Greenlandic delegation will seemingly provide plans to revisit financial and safety preparations among the many three nations, reminiscent of extra favorable entry for U.S. corporations to the Greenlandic mining sector and extra Danish investments in Arctic safety,” he added.
A number of European leaders rallied in help of Greenland final week, saying safety within the Arctic have to be achieved collectively.
“Greenland belongs to its individuals. It’s for Denmark and Greenland, and them solely, to resolve on issues regarding Denmark and Greenland,” the leaders stated. The letter was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in addition to the leaders of Italy, Spain and Poland.
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