Video: 'Constructive' talks on Greenland 'back on track,' top Denmark official says

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen confirmed on Thursday that “very constructive” talks regarding a deal on Greenland were “back on track” following President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose tariffs on European nations that did not support the United States obtaining the territory for national security purposes.

Following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last week, Trump announced a “framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.” As a result, Trump said he would not be imposing the tariffs he had previously announced on nations that did not support his plan for Greenland. Additionally, the president assured world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he would not use military force to take over Greenland. 

Trump’s comments at the World Economic Forum and his announcement on Truth Social last week came amid speculation that the president could use military force to acquire Greenland for the United States and amid the threat of new tariffs for countries that did not support his plan for Greenland. 

On Thursday, Rasmussen told reporters that senior officials from Greenland and Denmark met with senior U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to discuss the issue of Greenland.

“It went well in a very constructive atmosphere and tone, and new meetings are planned,” Rasmussen said. “It’s not that things are solved, but it’s good because now we are back to what we agreed in Washington exactly two weeks and a day ago. After that, there was a major detour. Things were escalating, but now we are back on track.”

The Danish foreign minister added, “It’s not that we can conclude anything, but I am slightly more optimistic today than a week ago.”

According to CNBC, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday that discussions regarding the future of Greenland will be conducted in a “very professional, straightforward way.”

“We’re in a good place right now,” the secretary of state said. “I think we have in place a process that is going to bring us to a good outcome for everybody. The president’s interest in Greenland has been clear, it’s a national security interest.”