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Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said his government views positively U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that military options are off the table regarding Greenland, but emphasized that the declaration does not resolve the underlying dispute between the two nations.
Speaking to reporters after a Foreign Policy Committee meeting in Copenhagen, Rasmussen assessed Trump's remarks at the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos. While noting he had not watched the speech live and was briefed on its content, the foreign minister said Trump's intention to acquire Greenland has not changed.
"It is a positive development that military force will not be used, but it does not eliminate the problem," Rasmussen said regarding Trump's statement that military options are not under consideration for Greenland.
At the forum, Trump said the United States wants to begin negotiations with Denmark on purchasing Greenland and does not intend to use force to obtain the territory. The president has previously stated that his country needs Greenland for national security purposes and that controlling the autonomous territory is vital for what he called the "Golden Dome" being constructed.
Following a recent meeting in Washington between the foreign ministers of the United States, Denmark and Greenland, fundamental disagreements reportedly persist. U.S. officials made clear their desire to take control of Greenland, according to statements from the meeting.
Greenland, an autonomous region within the Kingdom of Denmark, has rejected previous U.S. approaches that included proposals for transferring sovereignty. The territory has maintained its position against American acquisition efforts despite mounting pressure from Washington.
In response to the U.S. campaign, Denmark has recently called for increased military cooperation with allies in the region. European countries announced they would deploy small military units and officers to Greenland as part of this coordinated effort.
Trump escalated the dispute by arguing that world peace is at risk in the Greenland debate and announced tariff measures against eight European nations he accused of opposing U.S. acquisition of the territory. Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland face 10 percent customs duties starting February 1.
The president said the tariff rate would increase to 25 percent after June 1 and remain at that level until an agreement is reached for the complete purchase of Greenland. The tariff announcement represents an unusual use of trade policy to pressure allies over a territorial dispute.
Greenland's strategic location in the Arctic has made it increasingly valuable as climate change opens new shipping routes and access to natural resources in the region. The island also hosts Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, which serves as a key installation for U.S. missile warning systems.
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