Denmark, US at Odds Over Greenland After White House Talks
WASHINGTON - A "fundamental disagreement" between Denmark and the United States regarding Greenland persists, according to Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, following discussions at the White House on Wednesday. Rasmussen, after meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated that President Donald Trump was insisting on "conquering" Greenland, which he deemed "totally unacceptable," according to the BBC.
The talks, while "frank but constructive," highlighted the ongoing tension between the two nations regarding the autonomous Danish territory. "We made it very, very clear that this is not in the interest of Denmark," Rasmussen said, as reported by BBC.
Despite the disagreement, both sides agreed to establish a working group to explore potential solutions and navigate their differences, according to the Associated Press. Rasmussen and Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt held a news conference at the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
The renewed friction stems from President Trump's continued interest in acquiring Greenland, a notion that first surfaced during his initial term and was met with strong opposition from Denmark. Trump afterwards reiterated his interest in acquiring the resource-rich island. The Danish government maintains that Greenland is not for sale and that its future lies with the Kingdom of Denmark.
The establishment of a working group signals a willingness from both countries to engage in further dialogue. The specific focus and timeline of the working group's activities were not immediately disclosed.
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