Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Thursday he was “more optimistic” after technical-level talks began with the United States over Greenland, following weeks of heightened tensions sparked by remarks from US President Donald Trump.
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Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of an EU meeting in Brussels, Rasmussen confirmed that senior officials from Denmark and the United States held their first meeting in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the Greenland issue.
“It went well in a very constructive atmosphere and tone, and new meetings are planned. It’s not that things are solved, but it’s good,” Rasmussen said, adding that he felt slightly more hopeful than a week ago.
The talks come after President Trump last week stepped back from earlier threats to seize the autonomous Arctic territory, which belongs to EU and NATO member Denmark. Rasmussen acknowledged that relations had recently taken a sharp turn.
“There was a major detour. Things were escalating, but now we are back on track,” he said.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s royal household announced that King Frederik X will visit Greenland on February 18 to demonstrate solidarity with the island’s residents. The king said he and Queen Mary were deeply concerned by recent developments and aware of growing anxiety among Greenlandic people.
Trump’s comments had pushed transatlantic relations into one of their deepest crises in years. Although the US president later said he had reached a “framework” understanding with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to expand American influence in the region, Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected any discussion of sovereignty.
Rasmussen reiterated that Copenhagen shares Washington’s security concerns in the Arctic and wants to address them through close cooperation.
As part of the emerging compromise, NATO members are expected to increase their Arctic presence, while Denmark and Greenland may revisit a 1951 agreement governing US troop deployments.
Trump’s special envoy for Greenland, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, wrote in a New York Times op-ed that discussions were ongoing and aimed at strengthening American, NATO and Greenlandic security. He said the framework could allow expanded US operations, new bases, upgraded infrastructure and advanced missile-defence systems, while countering Chinese and Russian influence.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that he expected a “good outcome” from the negotiations.
Trump has repeatedly argued that Greenland, home to around 57,000 people, is vital to US national security.
