Military personnel from Germany, Sweden and Denmark study the defense of Greenland after confirming Trump’s “desire for conquest”

“It is clear that the president has this desire to conquer Greenland,” acknowledged Rasmussen, who regretted not having been able to “change the American position” in his first direct contact with the Trump Administration since the threats of annexation of the Arctic island began more than a year ago.

“Not everything is resolved, but we didn’t think we were going to achieve that today either,” assumed the former Danish prime minister. “Although, of course, no solution has been found today, it does represent a small step forward and a hope,” Motzfeldt noted.

Rasmussen clarified that both Denmark and Greenland remain willing to collaborate with the United States, and announced the creation of a “working group” to resolve Washington’s concerns that will meet “in the coming weeks.”

“At this moment I cannot say how the working group will work, but I can say that it will work to find solutions that everyone can live with. Although it is difficult, everything indicates that there is a willingness to listen to us,” the head of Greenlandic diplomacy ventured to say.

A couple of hours had passed since the “frank but constructive” meeting that both had in the Eisenhower Building, attached to the White House, with the vice president. J.D. Vance and the secretary of state, Marco Rubioheavyweights of the Trump Administration.

It was the first time that the parties discussed face to face the situation facing the largest island on the planet. They did it behind closed doors, in Vance’s office, for 65 minutes. “It is positive that it was a closed-door meeting and that we have not seen an escalation towards the outside,” commented the Greenlandic deputy. Aaja Chemnitzleader of the leftist Inuit Ataqatigiit.

Rasmussen and Motzfeldt made sure not to suffer the treatment that Trump and Vance himself meted out to the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenskion his first visit to the White House in February of last year. And Trump had heated up the atmosphere prior to the meeting through a publication on his Truth Social platform, in which he assured that Greenland would be better in the hands of the United States, and that any other scenario “would be unacceptable” for the interests of the Alliance.

The US president once again used the argument that NATO would be “much more formidable and effective” when it comes to confronting the threats from Beijing and Moscow. On this matter, Motzfeldt clarified during the meeting with Vance and Rubio that “we are not allies of China or Russia and that there is no type of Chinese investment in Greenland.”

Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Bardinhe seemed sardonic. “Escalation in the Arctic must be avoided,” he wrote on the social network X. “Differences and disagreements between Arctic states must be resolved in accordance with international law and through negotiations.”

“It is a cause of deep concern that an American president threatens to use force against another NATO ally that does not represent any military threat to the United States, but it is also surreal, since the threat lacks justification in the real world,” he emphasizes in conversation with this newspaper. Peter Viggo Jakobsenassociate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College.

“There are no Russian or Chinese ships that threaten Greenland, and the US military has not increased its military presence on the island in the last decade. Why? Because there is no threat,” the specialist answers himself.

pull checkbook

Trump’s priority is to use his checkbook to acquire the Arctic island. “It’s easier,” he acknowledged on Sunday. “But one way or another, we’re going to have Greenland.”

A group of academics and former US officials estimated the purchase price of the territory of more than 2,166,000 square kilometers and rich in natural resources at $700,000 million, according to NBC.

But Greenlandic and Danish leaders repeat over and over again that the island is “not for sale.” Neither does its 57,000 inhabitants.

Questioned this Wednesday about his plans for Greenland, the US president made it clear that he did not intend to “give up any option.”

“The problem is that Denmark can’t do anything about it if Russia or China want to occupy Greenland, but we can do everything in our power,” said Trump, who gave the capture of Nicolás Maduro as an example: “We discovered it last week with Venezuela.”

Denmark makes a move

Before “the most important meeting in Greenland’s recent history,” as the Nordic media headlined, Denmark’s Defense Minister, Troels Lund Poulsenannounced from Copenhagen that starting this Wednesday it would expand its military presence in Greenland, within the framework of a military exercise in which other NATO allies will participate.

“Defence, together with a number of Arctic and European allies, will explore in the coming weeks how an increased presence and exercise activities in the Arctic can be concretely carried out,” the official statement states.

“The Danish Armed Forces are, as of today, deploying capabilities and units related to exercise activities,” Poulsen stressed. “In the period ahead, this will translate into an increased military presence in and around Greenland, including aircraft, ships and soldiers, including troops from NATO allies.”

It was the response of the Prime Minister’s Government Mette Frederiksen to the constant provocations of Trump, who says that the country defends the Arctic island with “two dog sleds” and is not even capable of “defending itself.”

“When the exercises begin, the Greenlandic population will be continuously informed about the activities through the Arctic Command platforms,” ​​Motzfeldt added.

Sweden soon joined the initiative at the request of Denmark. “Some officers of the Swedish Armed Forces arrive in Greenland today,” the Prime Minister announced Ulf Kristerssonwithout specifying the number of troops deployed on the ground.

The conservative leader only explained that the Swedish military “are part of a group from several allied countries” and that “together they will prepare the next phases within the framework of the Danish exercise Operation Arctic Endurance.”

The Government of Norway announced, for its part, the sending of two troops. Germany confirmed that it will deploy thirteen Bundeswehr soldiers to Nuuk this Thursday with the mission of “exploring the framework conditions for possible military contributions that support Denmark in guaranteeing security in the region.”

France, the only nuclear power within the European Union, will also send a small detachment.