Even after the crisis talks between the USA, Denmark and Greenland, there is no solution to the conflict over the Arctic island.
There remains a “fundamental disagreement” between the parties, said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen after the meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance, which was also attended by Greenland’s foreign policy minister Vivian Motzfeldt.
US President Donald Trump had already made it clear before the hour-long conversation in a US government building near the White House that he would not deviate a millimeter from his territorial claim. Anything other than a Greenland in the hands of the United States is “unacceptable,” Trump wrote on his mouthpiece Truth Social.
Rasmussen said they traveled to Washington after “a series of, shall I say, remarkable public statements on the security of Greenland and the Arctic.” “Our goal was to find a common way to increase this security.”
It was agreed to form a high-level working group to see if a common path could be found that takes into account both American security interests and the Kingdom of Denmark’s red lines, Rasmussen said. This working group should meet for the first time within weeks.
Trump remains tough: “Anything else is unacceptable”
In recent days, Trump has repeatedly justified his claim with security issues and a threat from Russia and China. The US government had not ruled out taking the island by force.
Belonging to NATO is not sufficient protection – neither for Greenland nor the USA, Trump wrote before the meeting. Greenland is essential for the construction of the planned “Golden Dome” missile defense, and NATO should therefore pave the way for a US takeover of the island, Trump wrote. In capital letters he threatened that otherwise China or Russia would do this. He will prevent that. Trump had repeatedly referred to the increasing presence of Russian and Chinese ships in the region.
Is that true about the Russian and Chinese presence?
China in particular is a concern for Western militaries. The commander in chief of NATO forces in Europe, Alexus G. Grynkewich, recently said about possible threats from China, saying that the country is becoming increasingly aggressive, especially in the far north. The Chinese sent research ships to the region, which then presumably carried out military explorations under a scientific guise. During the most recent ice-free season, ships stayed off the north coast of Alaska for an extraordinarily long time. There are also joint patrols with the Russians.
Denmark increased its military presence in Greenland on Wednesday with support from Sweden and Norway. This is done in connection with military exercises with aircraft, ships and soldiers – and in close cooperation with NATO allies, said a statement from the Foreign Ministry and the Greenland Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Research.
During a press conference, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, when asked how the military would respond to an attack, said this was a “hypothetical” situation. “But the order is that if you are attacked, you must defend the kingdom,” he said.
What role does NATO play?
In order to defuse the conflict, several alliance states have recently spoken out in favor of a stronger alliance presence in the region – including Germany. Among other things, there is talk of starting a new surveillance operation called “Arctic Sentry”. This would be a different operation than the one Denmark announced on Wednesday.
So far, Trump has not let this dissuade him from his path. NATO can only develop an effective deterrent thanks to the USA, the US President wrote, adding that this was thanks to the strengthening of the US armed forces during his first term in office. NATO will be far more impressive and effective with a US-controlled Greenland.
The European Parliament condemned this and previous Trump administration statements about Greenland as “unacceptable.” Any attempt to “undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Denmark and Greenland violates international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” the EU Parliament said.
Bundeswehr flies to Greenland – how does Trump react?
After an unsuccessful crisis meeting between the USA, Denmark and Greenland, Germany and other European countries are pushing ahead with a military reconnaissance mission lasting several days on the Arctic island. The Bundeswehr wants to fly some soldiers to the capital Nuuk this morning. The first French soldiers set off for Greenland, which is claimed by the USA, in the evening. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is waiting for a reaction to the meeting with representatives from Denmark and Greenland.
The talks in Washington on the conflict over the Arctic island ended on Wednesday without a solution. According to Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance revealed “fundamental” differences of opinion. US President Donald Trump was not there. Neither Trump, Vance or Rubio have yet commented. Trump initially only told reporters that he wanted to be informed about the conversation.
Bundeswehr sends 13 soldiers
The Ministry of Defense in Berlin announced in the evening that an A400M transport aircraft would fly 13 Bundeswehr soldiers to the Greenland city of Nuuk in the morning. The on-site exploration will take place together with representatives of other partner nations. “The aim is to explore the framework for possible military contributions to support Denmark in ensuring security in the region, for example maritime surveillance capabilities.”
The ministry noted that the soldiers will be on the Arctic island at the invitation of Denmark and until Saturday.
The announcement follows repeated statements by US President Trump, who wants to buy the huge Arctic island or bring it under US control through other means. Trump justifies this with security for the region and the US population; he claims a threat from China and Russia. Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and therefore also part of NATO and an alliance partner of the USA. Greenland and Denmark are resisting US ambitions.
Denmark is arming itself in the conflict over Greenland
The Danes, with the support of Sweden and Norway, increased their military presence in Greenland on Wednesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Platform X in the evening that the first military personnel were on the way. “More will follow.” It spoke of “joint exercises” that Denmark had organized and which ran under the name “Operation Arctic Endurance”.
Trump remains tough: “Anything else is unacceptable”
The USA maintains the Pituffik Space Base military base in Greenland based on agreements with the Danes – but that is not enough for Trump. The US President has been repeating his claims of ownership for days. Anything other than a Greenland in the hands of the United States would be “unacceptable,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday morning before the crisis meeting.
According to Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen, the Danish and Greenlandic delegation traveled to Washington after “a series (…) of notable public statements on the security of Greenland and the Arctic.” “Our goal was to find a common way to increase this security.”
Working group as a result of the meeting
Rasmussen spoke of forming a higher-level working group to see if a common path could be found that takes into account both American security interests and the Kingdom of Denmark’s red lines. This working group should meet for the first time within weeks.
NATO commander-in-chief sees threat from China
Trump had also stated that membership in NATO was not sufficient protection, neither for Greenland nor the USA. The island is essential for the construction of the planned “Golden Dome” missile defense, and NATO should therefore pave the way for a US takeover of the island, Trump wrote.
Western military officials are particularly concerned about China. The commander in chief of NATO forces in Europe, Alexus G. Grynkewich, recently said about possible threats from China, saying that the country is becoming increasingly aggressive, especially in the far north. The Chinese sent research ships to the region, which then presumably carried out military explorations under a scientific guise. During the most recent ice-free season, ships stayed off the north coast of Alaska for an extraordinarily long time. There are also joint patrols with the Russians.
Inconsistent price development for German armaments stocks
Defense stocks, which are particularly sensitive to geopolitical tensions, fell on Thursday. Via
/mj/DP/nas
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX)
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