U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Danish and Greenlandic officials at the White House as President Donald Trump again emphasized his goal of acquiring Greenland, calling it important for U.S. national security.
The meeting came as Denmark and Greenland continued to state that Greenland is not for sale, even as Trump publicly urged NATO to “lead the way” in his push for U.S. ownership of the island.
After the talks, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen described the discussion as “frank and constructive,” while also saying “fundamental disagreements” remained over Trump’s stated aims.
Trump later told reporters he expected to be briefed on the meeting and said, “We need Greenland for national security,” adding that he believed “something will work out.”
White House talks underline dispute
Rasmussen said Denmark viewed Trump’s idea of taking Greenland as “totally unacceptable,” and said the U.S. president had a “wish of conquering over Greenland.”
Rasmussen also said Denmark had created a high-level working group “to explore if we can find a common way forward,” and expected it to meet for the first time within weeks.
Rasmussen said the group should focus on addressing U.S. security concerns while respecting Denmark’s “red lines,” and he spoke alongside Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt.
Trump, speaking later in the Oval Office, said Denmark and the U.S. had a “very good relationship,” while repeating that the U.S. “really need[s]” Greenland.
Trump calls on NATO to act
Trump wrote on Truth Social that it was “unacceptable” for Greenland to remain a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark and said NATO should be “leading the way” for the U.S. to “get it.”
In the same post, Trump argued NATO would not be an effective force or deterrent “without the vast power of the United States,” which he said he built during his first term and is now increasing.
Trump’s renewed threat to acquire Greenland through coercive means came hours before the White House meeting with Danish and Greenlandic ministers.
NATO sources said they “despair” at the prospect of allies turning on each other amid global instability.
Denmark and Greenland reject sale
The governments in Copenhagen and Nuuk have consistently said Greenland is “not for sale.”
Danish and Greenlandic officials have repeatedly said Greenland is not for sale, even as Rubio has floated the idea of the U.S. buying the island and noted Trump has talked about that since his first term.
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Greenland does not want to be owned, governed, or become part of the United States, and that Greenland “choose[s] Greenland as we know it now” as part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Trump responded to Nielsen by saying, “That’s going to be a big problem for him.”
Trump was asked whether he would leave NATO to acquire Greenland and he replied he was “not going to give up options,” while saying Greenland is important for national security, “including of Denmark.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has argued that U.S. military action to seize Greenland would mean “the end of NATO,” because Denmark and other NATO allies would be obligated to defend the island.
Arctic security takes center stage
Trump argued Greenland is needed to prevent Russia or China from moving in, and said, “If we don’t go in, Russia’s going to go in and China is going to go in.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that as sea lanes open, “there is a risk that the Russians and the Chinese will be more active.”
While the Trump administration claims Greenland is a weak link in U.S. security architecture, the U.S. has reduced its military presence there since the end of the Cold War and now operates one site, the Pituffik Space Base.
The U.S. has a military base in Greenland and 150 troops stationed there, and Trump said, “We need Greenland for national security.”
Rasmussen said the White House meeting focused heavily on security and that he pushed back against Trump’s claims during the discussion.
Rasmussen said there is not an “instant threat from China and Russia — at least not a threat we can’t accommodate.”
Denmark expands military presence
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed Denmark is moving to expand its permanent military presence in Greenland with the participation of other countries.
Denmark’s defence ministry said: “From today, there will be an expanded military presence in and around Greenland – in close cooperation with NATO allies.”
The ministry statement said the aim is to train the ability to operate in unique Arctic conditions and to strengthen the alliance’s footprint in the Arctic for European and transatlantic security.
Denmark, Germany, the UK and France have said they are prepared to participate in enhanced surveillance across sea, land and air, with military exercises potentially included.
Germany’s foreign minister said it was too early to say what exactly would happen, while describing the North Atlantic route as essential for goods transfer between the U.S. and the EU.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU respects the wishes of Greenlanders and that Greenlanders can “count on us,” stressing support shown by “deeds” as well as words.
