Trump says US must control Greenland as JD Vance prepares for key diplomatic meetings

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump reiterated on Wednesday, January 14, that the United States “needs” to take control of Greenland for national security purposes, saying that “anything less than that is unacceptable.”

His comments came hours before Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were set to meet with senior officials from Denmark and Greenland in Washington.

The remarks intensified an ongoing diplomatic dispute over the future of the Arctic territory, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Both Danish and Greenlandic leaders have publicly rejected any transfer of sovereignty. 

Trump reaffirms US position ahead of diplomatic talks 

In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that Greenland is vital to US and NATO security interests, warning that rival powers could otherwise expand their influence in the region.

“NATO should be leading the way for us to get it,” Trump wrote. “IF WE DON’T, RUSSIA OR CHINA WILL, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!”

He added that the alliance would be strengthened if Greenland were under US control. “NATO becomes far more formidable and effective with Greenland in the hands of the UNITED STATES,” Trump said. “Anything less than that is unacceptable.”

The comments came ahead of a meeting involving Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt.

Rasmussen said that the discussions were intended to ease tensions and allow all parties to address concerns directly.

“Our reason for seeking the meeting we have now been given was to move this whole discussion … into a meeting room where we can look each other in the eye and talk about these things,” Rasmussen said.

The White House continued to emphasize Greenland’s strategic importance.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump “believes that Greenland is a strategically important location that is critical from the standpoint of national security,” adding that he is “confident Greenlanders would be better served if protected by the United States from modern threats in the Arctic region.”

The US already maintains a military presence on the island, including at Pituffik Space Base, and Denmark has said Washington is welcome to increase its forces there as part of NATO cooperation.

Greenland and Denmark reject takeover as NATO allies voice concerns

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has repeatedly rejected the idea of a US takeover, most recently at a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

“Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States. Greenland does not want to be part of the United States,” Nielsen said.

“If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU,” he added.

Nielsen’s office also said that Greenland would not accept a US takeover “under any circumstance” and called for NATO to defend the territory if necessary.

The dispute has raised broader concerns among NATO allies, as Greenland is part of Denmark, a founding member of the alliance.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said allies agree on the importance of Arctic security. “We all agree - in NATO - we all agree that when it comes to the protection of the Arctic, we have to work together,” Rutte said.