By Janet Ekstract, NEW YORK- After a White House meeting hosting the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland, on January 14 – the U.S., Denmark and Greenland did agree to create a high-level working group to further discuss Greenland’s future security without any diplomatic resolution. As the Danish foreign minister stated after the meeting – there is still a “fundamental disagreement, therefore we agree to disagree,” adding the talks were “frank but constructive.” While Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio who both led the talks, did not initially comment after the meeting, but U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance that Greenland is “necessary” for the U.S. to own is the prevailing rhetoric from the Trump administration. After the meeting, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lotte Rasmussen, in a press conference alongside Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said: “The president has made his view clear, we have a different decision.” As he continued: “We, the Kingdom of Denmark, continue to believe that also, the long-term security of Greenland can be secured inside the current framework – with a 1951 agreement on the defense of Greenland – as well as the NATO Treaty.” The Danish foreign minister further stated: “For us, ideas that would not respect the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are, of course, totally unacceptable.”
Before the White House meeting, Denmark announced on January 14, plans to shore up its military presence in and around Greenland that include exercises to guard national infrastructure, deploy fighter aircraft and conduct naval operations. Meanwhile, Germany’s Defense Ministry at the invitation of Denmark, said it plans to deploy a “reconnaissance team” of 13 personnel to Nuuk, Greenland. The mission referred to as “Operation Arctic Endurance” runs from January 15 to January 17 and is set up to explore a framework for possible military contributions to guarantee security in the region, according to Germany’s Defense Ministry. This operation will also include maritime surveillance capabilities as well, the ministry said. French President Emmanuel Macron in a social media post, said that France will also participate in the joint exercises. In addition, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson sent several officers from Swedish armed forces to Greenland on January 14. According to a translation, Kristersson via X said: “They are part of a group from several allied countries. Together, they will prepare for upcoming elements within the framework of the Danish exercise Operation Arctic Endurance.” Norway also plans to include its military personnel in the exercises as well.