U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance meet Democratic Republic of the Congo’s International Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner (not pictured) and Rwanda’s International Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe (not pictured) within the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington D.C., June 27, 2025.
Ken Cedeno | Reuters
The Trump administration is poised for crunch talks with Greenlandic and Danish officers on Wednesday, amid the U.S. president’s ongoing push to take management of Greenland.
Greenland International Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and her Danish counterpart, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, are anticipated to convene on the White Home for talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The high-stakes assembly comes shortly after Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen portrayed a united entrance towards Trump’s repeated takeover threats.
Talking at a joint press convention in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Greenland’s Nielsen mentioned that if the self-governing Danish territory should select between the U.S. and Denmark, “we select Denmark.”
Frederiksen additionally mentioned it had not been simple to face as much as what she described as “utterly unacceptable strain” from our closest ally. “However there’s a lot to counsel that the toughest half remains to be forward of us.”
Trump, who has lengthy coveted making Greenland part of the US, renewed his curiosity within the huge and mineral-rich Arctic island following an audacious U.S. navy operation in Venezuela on Jan. 3.
The U.S. president has mentioned that the island, which is strategically located between Europe and North America, is significant “from the standpoint of nationwide safety.”
Talking to reporters on board Air Pressure One in current days, Trump mentioned the U.S. would take management of Greenland “by some means,” even when it strains the connection throughout the NATO navy alliance.
Trump’s feedback have raised alarm in Denmark, which is liable for the protection of Greenland, with Frederiksen cautioning {that a} U.S. assault would mark the top of NATO.
Protection and assets
Ian Lesser, distinguished fellow at GMF, a Washington-based suppose tank, mentioned the stakes have been “very excessive” for the talks, warning that failure to resolve the diplomatic disaster “doesn’t simply threaten NATO cohesion, it threatens the long run existence of the Alliance as we all know it.”
The assembly will seemingly search to make clear the prospects for and potential contours of a negotiated settlement of the disaster, Lesser mentioned.
“There could possibly be new European commitments to strengthening the defence of Greenland, and extra necessary, the encompassing maritime area. There may also be parallel talks round new and preferential US entry to Greenland’s assets,” Lesser informed CNBC by electronic mail.
“Or, the assembly might finish in acrimony,” he added.
Greenland’s Head of Authorities (Naalakkersuisut) Jens-Frederik Nielsen (L) and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen give an announcement on the present scenario at a press convention within the Mirror Corridor on the Prime Minister’s Workplace in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 13, 2026.
Liselotte Sabroe | Afp | Getty Pictures
The prospect of a public fallout between U.S. and European officers on the White Home brings to thoughts a extremely contentious assembly between Trump, Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February final 12 months.
Trump and Vance accused Zelenskyy of an absence of respect because the assembly veered sharply off monitor, devolving into a rare shouting match dwell on digital camera.
‘A profound disaster’
Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, mentioned he doesn’t count on the U.S., Greenland, and Denmark to have the ability to discover a diplomatic resolution on Wednesday, describing the scenario as “a profound disaster.”
“I feel there was a big change, I feel it was yesterday, when it was introduced in Washington that JD Vance, the vp, was going to take over the assembly,” Bildt informed CNBC’s “Europe Early Version” on Wednesday.
“It was scheduled to be with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has indicated a barely milder method, however JD Vance has, after all, been straight insulting in direction of Denmark and demanding very unusual issues,” Bildt mentioned.
“I count on a reasonably onerous assembly. I do not count on any decision. At greatest, I count on that they are going to provoke the method of talks of some type,” he added.
Bildt, who serves as co-chair of the European Council on International Relations suppose tank, referred to JD Vance’s remarks on the Munich Safety Convention in February final 12 months, saying his “moderately extraordinary” evaluation of Europe was extra consistent with the “excessive proper” of the area.
“This isn’t the trans-Atlantic alliance we used to have,” he added.
What would a very good consequence seem like?
Otto Svendsen, affiliate fellow with the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Program on the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research, a Washington-based suppose tank, mentioned tensions between Greenland and Denmark have been put aside to current a united entrance towards U.S. threats.
The White Home assembly, Svendsen mentioned, will present additional clues as to how dedicated all the Trump administration is to buying Greenland — and the way deterred the administration is to threats of a whole breakdown in bilateral relations.
“A great consequence for the Danes and Greenlanders can be an announcement that affirms Greenland’s sovereignty and place throughout the Kingdom. Something in need of that leaves the door open to continued threats and coercion,” Svendsen informed CNBC by electronic mail.
“In return, the Danish and Greenlandic delegation will seemingly supply plans to revisit financial and safety preparations among the many three international locations, akin to extra favorable entry for U.S. firms to the Greenlandic mining sector and extra Danish investments in Arctic safety,” he added.
Individuals protest towards the American strain happening towards Greenland and Denmark, in entrance of the American Embassy in Copenhagen on March 29, 2025.
Nils Meilvang | Afp | Getty Pictures
A number of European leaders rallied in help of Greenland final week, saying safety within the Arctic have to be achieved collectively.
“Greenland belongs to its individuals. It’s for Denmark and Greenland, and them solely, to determine on issues regarding Denmark and Greenland,” the leaders mentioned. The letter was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in addition to the leaders of Italy, Spain and Poland.
