Washington meeting on Greenland ends in impasse as officials plan working group

A high-level meeting in Washington on Wednesday over Greenland’s future ended in an impasse, with Greenland’s foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, sitting down with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio while Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, also attended.

The session was historic because Greenland was included at such high levels for the first time, but officials left with what Mr. Rasmussen described as a “fundamental disagreement.” President Trump, who has said the United States should take over Greenland, possibly with military force, told reporters: “You’re saying that.

I didn’t say it.” He also said Greenland was crucial for U.S. security: “There’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it if Russia or China wants to occupy Greenland, but there’s everything we can do,” and added, “I have a very good relationship with Denmark, and we’ll see how it all works out.

I think something will work out.” Greenlanders, a population of about 57,000, watched the meeting with alarm and pride: many applauded when Ms. Motzfeldt spoke in Greenlandic to reporters. Polls and interviews cited by the coverage indicate most do not want to give up Denmark’s free education and health care, and some residents expressed fear about what the United States might do next.

Key Topics

World, Greenland, Denmark, Vivian Motzfeldt, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Jd Vance