In a significant diplomatic move, the United States, Denmark, and Greenland have agreed to form a high-level working group. This comes amid an ongoing and fundamental disagreement over control and the future of the vast Arctic island.
Frank Talks at the White House
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen announced the agreement following a meeting at the White House on January 16, 2026. He met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, alongside Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt.
Rasmussen described the discussions as frank yet constructive. The core focus was on ensuring long-term security in Greenland. However, he openly acknowledged that the perspectives of Denmark and Greenland remain different from that of the United States.
The Danish minister stated that while U.S. President Donald Trump has made his position clear, Denmark holds a different view. He stressed that Greenland's security can be assured within the existing framework.
Respecting Red Lines and Self-Determination
The newly agreed working group aims to explore potential areas of compromise at a high level. Its goal is to see if the concerns raised by President Trump can be addressed. Crucially, this must be done while still respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Rasmussen issued a firm warning, declaring any ideas that fail to respect the territorial integrity of Denmark or the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people as totally unacceptable. The working group is expected to hold its first meeting within weeks.
A United Front Against Acquisition Threats
The talks follow a series of provocative statements from President Trump. On Wednesday, he stated that anything less than Greenland becoming part of the United States would be unacceptable. He cited U.S. national security interests and the so-called Golden Dome project as reasons.
Just a day earlier, on Tuesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen presented a united front in Copenhagen. They held a joint press conference to counter Trump's repeated threats to acquire Greenland.
Prime Minister Nielsen was unequivocal, stating that if Greenland were forced to choose between the United States and Denmark, it would choose Denmark. Prime Minister Frederiksen lamented the completely unacceptable pressure from Denmark's closest ally and warned that the most difficult period may still be ahead.
This dispute is not new. Since his first term, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to acquire Greenland. Both Denmark and Greenland have consistently responded that the island is not for sale. The White House has previously stated that Trump will not rule out the use of force.
Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While it manages most of its own affairs, Copenhagen retains control over defense and foreign policy. The United States currently maintains a strategic military base on the island.
