Greenland: less than an hour of discussion at the White House

The closely watched discussions between the United States, Denmark and Greenland ended in Washington after less than an hour of talks. They focused on Donald Trump's demands for American control of the Arctic territory. The meeting was held at the White House, attended by Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who received the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers.

The official objective was to discuss US demands regarding security and strategic presence in the Arctic. On the European side, many observers feared an attempt to put direct pressure on Copenhagen, given the significant political and military asymmetry. The Danish Embassy in Washington was to inform the press of the results of the talks within an hour of the meeting.

A few hours before the discussions, Donald Trump had hardened his position. He said it would be "unacceptable" for Greenland to be "in the hands" of any country other than the United States. He reaffirmed that the territory was essential to US national security, particularly in the context of missile defence and control of the Arctic. According to him, NATO should play a leading role in facilitating a transfer of sovereignty to Washington.

The US President also mentioned Greenland's importance to the defence system project known as "Golden Dome". He claimed that direct control of the island would strengthen the military effectiveness of the Atlantic alliance. Experts quoted in the American press estimate that such a purchase could cost up to $700 billion, a figure widely cited in European debates.

During the meeting, the Danish defence minister reiterated that Denmark planned to establish a more permanent and significant military presence in Greenland. He considered the possibility of a direct American attack to be highly hypothetical. Despite this, the White House continued its aggressive communication on social media, posting messages that were considered provocative by the Danish authorities.

Donald Trump has put this issue back at the top of his agenda since his return to the White House. He had already mentioned acquiring Greenland in 2019, but his rhetoric has become significantly more radical. He recently stated that the United States would obtain the territory "one way or another", without ruling out the use of force. These statements have caused deep concern in European capitals.

Denmark and Greenland have reiterated that the territory is not for sale. They denounce what they consider to be unacceptable pressure on a historic ally. Both sides point out that a bilateral agreement signed in 1951 already allows for a significant expansion of the US military presence on the island, without calling into question its sovereignty.

Several European leaders have expressed their support for Copenhagen. The President of the European Commission has stated that Greenland belongs to its people. The French President warned that any infringement of the sovereignty of a European Union member state would have unprecedented consequences. For their part, the Greenlandic authorities have reaffirmed their clear choice in favour of Denmark, NATO and the European Union, while calling for peaceful and cooperative dialogue. The Guardian

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