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Top US officials have met with their Danish counterparts to discuss the escalating tensions surrounding President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: Shortly after President Trump returned to office, he began calling for Greenland to become part of the United States, citing a mix of strategic, economic, and national security reasons. Trump has argued that as Arctic ice continues to melt, new trade routes are opening through the region that geopolitical rivals like China and Russia could exploit. He has openly warned that without greater US control or influence in Greenland, the area risks becoming militarized by foreign powers (specifically China and Russia), threatening global stability and American interests. Trump has also highlighted the island’s vast reserves of rare earth materials and the need to install advanced early warning systems in the Arctic to monitor potential missile threats. These proposals have repeatedly angered many in Greenland, where there is strong support for independence from Denmark and little interest in joining the United States.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Washington with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt to address the Trump administration’s renewed efforts to bring Greenland under US control. The meeting was driven by US concerns over Arctic security, with Trump pushing the narrative that American control of Greenland is essential to counter rising threats from China and Russia in the region. US officials also emphasized the island’s strategic value in missile defense, mineral access, and future shipping lanes, arguing that Denmark alone cannot safeguard such a critical location.

Following the talks, Rasmussen described the conversation as “frank but constructive,” but reiterated that a “fundamental disagreement” remains. He and Motzfeldt made it clear that Denmark and Greenland reject outright the idea of selling or transferring sovereignty over Greenland to the United States. Greenlandic officials emphasized that the island is not for sale, not open to foreign governance, and that its future lies within the Kingdom of Denmark. They also pushed back on US suggestions that Denmark has failed to secure the Arctic, highlighting the expansion of joint military exercises with NATO allies as proof of their commitment.

Despite the lack of agreement, both sides agreed to form a high-level working group to find common ground. The group will explore ways to address American national security concerns in the Arctic without undermining Greenland’s autonomy or violating Denmark’s territorial integrity.

This comes as China has criticized Trump’s claims that China will eventually take Greenland. While speaking to the press earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the United States needs to stop using other countries, including China, as a “pretext” to take Greenland. She added, “China’s activities in the Arctic are aimed at promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and are in accordance with international law.”