Top diplomats from Denmark and Greenland are receiving praise for their handling of U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated threats regarding the Arctic island. Despite Trump’s increased rhetoric, labeling anything other than U.S. control of Greenland as “unacceptable,” the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland presented their case in Washington with composure and logic, firmly asserting that the president’s territorial aspirations are not viable.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, addressing a news conference on Wednesday, acknowledged the unusual public remarks on Greenland and Arctic security made by the president. Rasmussen emphasized, “It’s evident that the president desires to conquer Greenland. We hold a different stance.”
Denmark, a NATO member, and Greenland, its semi-autonomous Arctic region, are the latest to confront the challenge of navigating diplomatic waters with the occasionally undiplomatic and unpredictable Trump administration.
Liana Fix, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, highlighted two approaches to dealing with Trump: demonstrating strength to compel him to retract his statements or eventually making concessions due to U.S. influence.
In response to the Greenland threats, Denmark and European allies are employing a dual strategy. This strategy involves engaging in discussions to de-escalate tensions while also signaling deterrence by deploying military personnel from several NATO countries to Greenland.
The presence of troops from France, Germany, Norway, the U.K., and the Netherlands in Greenland, though small in number, holds significant strategic importance. This move underscores the commitment of European nations to safeguard Greenland as a territory of a NATO member beyond the reach of the Trump administration.
Rasmussen and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, conducted high-level talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. Subsequently, they emphasized in a news conference that U.S. control of Greenland is a “red line” and refuted Trump’s claims of national security imperatives.
Rachel Ellehuus, from the Royal United Services Institute, commended the well-coordinated diplomatic effort of Denmark and Greenland, emphasizing the value of statecraft in navigating interactions with the current U.S. administration.
Garret Martin, a professor at American University, praised Denmark and Greenland for avoiding further escalation with Trump and securing time through strategic patience. Public support in the U.S. indicates reluctance towards military intervention to acquire Greenland, favoring diplomatic resolutions.
Legislative actions in Congress demonstrate a bipartisan stance against military actions to seize a NATO member’s territory without approval. The unity between Greenland and Denmark on the issue of American control of the island strengthens their position in the face of external pressures.
Overall, the diplomatic efforts of Denmark and Greenland underscore the importance of dialogue, strategic positioning, and unity in safeguarding Greenland’s sovereignty amid external challenges.