Trump's Greenland ambitions strain US‑Denmark relations at NATO meeting
Denmark's and the USA's foreign ministers are planning their first meeting since Donald Trump's victory and his announcement that he would take over Greenland. The meeting is set to occur in Brussels on the sidelines of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting.
What you need to know
- Meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit: Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio are scheduled to talk in Brussels during the NATO foreign ministers' meeting.
- Greenland in the spotlight: Donald Trump has once again expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, which has heightened tensions in relations with Denmark.
- Limited diplomatic contacts: Currently, contacts between Denmark and the USA are minimal, highlighting the importance of the upcoming meeting.
The first meeting of the USA and Denmark foreign ministers
As reported by the "Financial Times," Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Mark Rubio plan to meet in Brussels during the NATO summit. This will be the first high-level meeting between Denmark and the USA since Donald Trump's victory.
Officials involved in preparing for this meeting, who spoke with the "FT," cautioned that the meeting could be canceled due to tensions in bilateral relations. Greenland, which is an autonomous territory dependent on Denmark, is currently being visited by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. A few days earlier, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance was on the island.
Why is Greenland crucial?
Donald Trump once again expressed a desire to take over Greenland on Friday, arguing that it is necessary for global security. He claims that Denmark cannot defend itself against the increasing activities of Russia and China in the region. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, during his visit to Greenland, accused Denmark of failing to fulfill defense obligations, which was met with criticism from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
What are Denmark's reactions?
Denmark, which initially tried to ignore Trump's claims to Greenland and asked allies not to respond to the U.S. president's statements on the matter, has recently shifted tactics to counter Washington's rhetoric.
Frederiksen announced on Friday that Vance, by accusing the government in Copenhagen of failing to meet defense obligations in Greenland, acted unfairly. "Denmark is a good and strong ally to all NATO members. We face a threat from Russia and have significantly increased defense spending. For many years, we have stood side by side with the Americans in very difficult situations. Therefore, the Vice President’s description of Denmark is not accurate," she wrote in a statement.
Rasmussen added, "We are open to criticisms, but let me be completely honest, we do not appreciate the tone in which it’s being delivered."
"This is not how you speak to your close allies, and I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies."
