European troops from several European countries continued to arrive in Greenland on Thursday, an AP report said, as talks among representatives of Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. highlighted “fundamental disagreement” over the future of the Arctic island.
The White House described plans for more talks with officials from Denmark and Greenland as “technical talks on the acquisition agreement” for the U.S. to acquire Greenland. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, flanked by his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt, had described the effort differently, saying the discussions were meant to function as a working group to address differences while respecting Denmark’s “red lines.”
Rasmussen said the group, in his view, “should focus on how to address the American security concerns, while at the same time respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark.” Before Wednesday’s talks began, Denmark announced it would increase its military presence in Greenland.
The deployments were also intended to portray European unity in response to President Donald Trump’s stated goal to acquire Greenland. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that the troop movements had no impact on Trump’s decision-making, adding that “the president has made his priority quite clear, that he wants the United States to acquire Greenland,” and that he believes it is “in our best national security to do that.”
In the White House meeting Wednesday, Rasmussen said afterward that a “fundamental disagreement” over Greenland remained after he met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He said it remained “clear that the president has this wish of conquering over Greenland,” while dialogue with the U.S. would continue at a high level over the following weeks.
European countries began taking military steps alongside Denmark’s announcement. French President Emmanuel Macron said “the first French military elements are already en route” and that “others will follow,” and French authorities said about 15 soldiers from the mountain infantry unit were already in Nuuk for a military exercise. Germany’s Defense Ministry said Germany would deploy a reconnaissance team of 13 personnel on Thursday, and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the intention was “to establish a more permanent military presence with a larger Danish contribution,” with soldiers from several NATO countries in Greenland on a rotation system.
Greenland’s leadership responded to the news with a mix of anxiety and relief, AP said, as negotiations were described as continuing. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed “dialogue and diplomacy,” and said, “Greenland is not for sale.” He added that Greenland does not want to be owned or governed from the United States and does not want to be part of the United States.
In Nuuk, local residents told AP they were glad the first meeting between Greenlandic, Danish and American officials had taken place, but said it left more questions than answers. Maya Martinsen, 21, said it was “comforting to know that the Nordic countries are sending reinforcements” because Greenland is part of Denmark and NATO, and said the dispute was not about “national security” but rather about “the oils and minerals that we have that are untouched.”
Denmark’s stepped-up posture was also described as tied to wider alliance activity. On Wednesday, Poulsen announced an increased military presence in and around Greenland, involving aircraft, ships and soldiers including from other NATO allies, saying such movement was necessary in a security environment where “no one can predict what will happen tomorrow.” Denmark informed NATO it would conduct exercises in Greenland, and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Alexus Grynkewich spoke Thursday with Denmark’s chief of defense, Col. Martin O’Donnell; O’Donnell’s spokesperson said they all agreed the Arctic, including Greenland, is important for transatlantic security and that the Danish exercises and additional troops “bolster our collective defenses there.”
In Washington, Rasmussen and Motzfeldt also met with a bipartisan group of senators at the U.S. Capitol. Rasmussen told reporters they appreciated having close friends in the Senate and House, and said Denmark would work to “accommodate any reasonable American requests” with Greenland. In Copenhagen, Line McGee said she was glad to see some diplomatic progress, adding, “I don’t think the threat has gone away,” but also that “I feel slightly better than I did yesterday.”
At the same time, Russia criticized the developments. The Russian embassy in Brussels said it lambasted what it called the West’s “bellicose plans” in response to “phantom threats that they generate themselves,” and said the planned military actions were part of an “anti-Russian and anti-Chinese agenda” by NATO.
In the Oval Office meeting with reporters, Trump said, “We’ll see how it all works out. I think something will work out.” Meanwhile, Poulsen said the working group was “better than no working group” and “a step in the right direction,” while adding that dialogue with the U.S. did not mean “the danger has passed.”