On Thursday, both Greenlandic and Danish officials firmly told U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill that Greenland is “not for sale.” This message aims to halt any ongoing discussions about President Donald Trump’s proposals suggesting the U.S. should buy the Arctic territory.
In a related development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a meeting scheduled for next week with Danish and Greenlandic officials to discuss renewed interest from the administration in acquiring Greenland.
This urgent diplomatic engagement was initiated by Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, particularly after a period where the White House hinted at potentially using military action to secure the island.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned that “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option” to secure Greenland, emphasizing its importance for national security in countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic. Furthermore, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller raised doubts about Denmark’s historical claims to Greenland and suggested a U.S. takeover would face no military opposition.
While Rubio stated that acquiring the territory has “always been the president’s intent,” he later seemed to lean towards a diplomatic resolution. Still, officials in Copenhagen and Nuuk reiterated their position that Greenland is not up for sale, insisting that any takeover attempts would threaten both NATO alliances and international regulations.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) reinforced that Denmark and Greenland have the right to refuse U.S. negotiations about the territory’s future.
“That’s their prerogative, and they’re right, and they’ve made that very, very clear to us,” he remarked to reporters.
Wicker suggested that President Trump should focus on significant global threats from Russia, China, or Iran instead of aggravating relations with Greenland.
“That’s my message to the President of the United States: I think our intention should be on those very, very serious issues,” he said. “And when we have a discussion with allies, and they’ve made their position very, very clear, as friends, I think it is incumbent on us to honor the wishes of our very, very close allies.”
Jacob Isbosethsen, Greenland’s representative, conveyed a direct statement on behalf of the semi-autonomous territory.
“Greenland is not for sale. I think our Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and our Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, have made it very, very clear. Our country belongs to the Greenlandic people,” Isbosethsen stated. “Greenland is a very proud people. It’s a very, very proud country, and we are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and we are very proud of that.”
Danish Ambassador Jesper Møller Sørensen also highlighted Denmark’s commitment to enhancing security partnerships with the U.S.
“The core of what we have discussed is that we have ample opportunities to strengthen our relationship within the existing structures, and we intend to work on that,” he remarked.
In another development, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) indicated plans to introduce a war powers resolution regarding Greenland, along with similar proposals concerning Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, and Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Senate advanced a separate resolution about Venezuela on Thursday.
However, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a member of the Armed Services Committee, remarked that she had not participated in these discussions, and Wicker refrained from commenting on his potential support for such measures.
“I’m really expecting, after the dust settles on this particular portion of the issue, I think there will be some agreements that will be mutually beneficial to not only our people, but also to NATO, and the people of the world who believe in honoring international law, and living peacefully under democracies,” Wicker stated.
