‘Fundamental disagreement remains over Greenland’: Danish minister after talks with Vance, Rubio
The White House meeting with Vance and Rubio took place in a "very constructive atmosphere" and they had the opportunity to "challenge the narrative" presented to the world by Trump.
Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt speak at a news conference at the Embassy of Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
Danish representatives had a “frank but also constructive discussion” with US officials on Wednesday regarding Greenland, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen who met top US representatives in the White House on Wednesday reiterated that the prospect of America acquiring Greenland is “absolutely not necessary”.
Rasmussen also made it clear that there was still a disagreement between Denmark and the US over Greenland, but added that his country is looking whether there are opportunities to accommodate Trump, while respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt speak at a news conference at the Embassy of Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
“That is the work we will start, whether that is doable, I do not know,” he said.
Despite the much-talked-about meeting between Danish and Greenlandic officials and two top US representatives, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, failing to make any headway, Rasmussen said that while the US and Denmark are not at full agreement over Greenland, it was still productive to start discussions at a high level among the three sides.
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He says the meeting at the White House with Vance and Rubio took place in a “very constructive atmosphere” and they had the opportunity to “challenge the narrative” presented to the world by Trump.
Rasmussen also ruled out Trump’s repeated claim that Greenland was facing threats from China and Russia to justify his demand to acquire the island.
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt arrive for a news conference at the Embassy of Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)
According to Rasmussen, there is no “instant threat” from China and Russia that Denmark and Greenland “can’t accommodate.”
He also said that there is no Chinese presence currently in Greenland, and dismisses the concern that this “will be the case in 10 or 20 years from now”.
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Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt speak at a news conference at the Embassy of Denmark, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell) 
