Overview
- Talks have begun in Washington led by Vice President J.D. Vance with Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland’s Vivian Motzfeldt to discuss the island’s future.
- President Donald Trump reiterated that anything short of U.S. control of Greenland is unacceptable, arguing NATO would be stronger with the island in U.S. hands.
- Denmark is stepping up its military posture in Greenland with an advance command and expanded NATO Arctic exercises, and Sweden has sent officers to support under Operation Arctic Endurance.
- EU leaders voiced support for Danish and Greenlandic sovereignty, with Ursula von der Leyen stressing the island belongs to its people, the European Parliament’s leaders condemning U.S. statements, and France set to open a consulate on February 6.
- Greenland’s prime minister and Denmark rejected any U.S. ownership or governance, while reporting indicates Secretary of State Marco Rubio was tasked to draft a purchase proposal and outside estimates put a potential price tag at up to $700 billion.