Denmark, Greenland lobby US against Trump’s push on Greenland

Denmark and Greenland have stepped up diplomatic efforts in Washington to counter former US President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire the strategically important Arctic island of Greenland, raising concerns in Europe over sovereignty, security and international norms.

Denmark’s ambassador to the United States, Jesper Møller Sørensen , and Greenland’s chief representative in Washington, Jacob Isbosethsen , met White House National Security Council officials this week to discuss Trump’s remarks about a possible US “takeover” of Greenland , including suggestions that military force could not be ruled out, according to Danish officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

The envoys have also met several US lawmakers in an effort to build support for persuading Trump to step back from the proposal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to meet Danish officials in Washington next week.

In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said the United States needed to “possess the entirety of Greenland,” arguing that ownership would offer advantages beyond those available under existing treaties or leases. The US is already party to a 1951 defence agreement that grants it broad rights to establish military bases in Greenland with the consent of Denmark and Greenland.

Vice President JD Vance has framed Greenland as a critical issue of defence, urging European allies to take its security more seriously and warning, “If they’re not, the United States is going to have to do something about it.” He also criticised Denmark for not doing enough to secure the island, saying Trump is “willing to go as far as he has to” to protect American interests in the Arctic, and dismissed Denmark’s past alliance record as insufficient to guarantee security today.

The diplomatic outreach by Denmark and Greenland has gained urgency amid wider global anxiety over territorial expansion and sovereignty. Officials in Copenhagen and the capital of Greenland Nuuk warn that strong rhetoric on annexation risks undermining long-standing international norms, particularly in sensitive regions such as the Arctic, and could unsettle Greenland’s population.

Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the upcoming talks with Rubio were necessary, describing them as “the dialogue that is needed,” and noted they are being held in coordination with Greenland’s government, whose 56,000 mostly Inuit residents live on an island about 80 per cent above the Arctic Circle, a territory of growing strategic importance due to its location, climate-driven Arctic routes, and existing military infrastructure.

Greenlandic leaders have strongly rejected the tone of the US remarks. Aaja Chemnitz, one of Greenland’s two representatives in the Danish parliament, said many Greenlanders found the comments disrespectful and stressed that discussions about the island often took place without their involvement. “Nothing about Greenland, without Greenland,” she said.

Chemnitz added that while many Greenlanders favour greater self-determination, including eventual independence, they also seek cooperation with international partners based on mutual respect. She rejected claims that Greenland was heavily trafficked by Russian or Chinese vessels, noting that existing agreements already give the US access to establish bases if needed.