Overview
- Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers met U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, then said the talks did not shift Washington’s stance and announced a new high-level working group on security concerns.
- President Donald Trump said he expects the United States and Denmark will reach an agreement but declined to rule out any options regarding Greenland.
- Denmark’s foreign minister said changing Arctic security dynamics do not justify U.S. control over Greenland, noting the island’s autonomous status and the 1951 U.S.-Denmark agreement assigning Washington defense responsibilities.
- Leaders of major European Parliament groups condemned U.S. statements on Greenland as a gross challenge to international law, while seven UN experts warned the claims echo colonial-era logic and risk undermining UN Charter principles.
- France pledged to defend Greenland’s sovereignty, Germany will send a Bundeswehr transport with 13 personnel for a reconnaissance mission in Nuuk from January 15–17 at Denmark’s invitation, and the Dutch foreign minister backed continued work in the new U.S.–Denmark group and NATO discussions.