Denmark and Greenland addressed the media following talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio focused on Arctic security.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen confirmed that disagreements remain with Washington over Greenland’s future. He said discussions were frank and reflected differing perspectives between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland.
Rasmussen announced the creation of a new high-level working group aimed at addressing U.S. security concerns in the Arctic while respecting Danish sovereignty and Greenlandic self-determination. The move is intended to maintain dialogue amid heightened strategic interest in the region.
00:00It's important here, as you can see, at Jørgen and Ligian Rosfeld, side on side,
00:08in a lot of time, with us.
00:13It's both the press and the international press,
00:17and all the other people.
00:20I don't know what it is.
00:23I don't know what it is.
00:26Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen from the press.
00:52Minister Vivian Rosfeld and I met with Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio today.
01:02We came here following a number of remarkable public comments on Greenland and Arctic security.
01:14Our aim was to find a joint way forward to increase Arctic security.
01:20What can the Kingdom of Denmark do more?
01:23What can US do more? What can NATO do more?
01:27The Kingdom of Denmark has already stepped up our own contribution by committing additional funds for military capabilities,
01:37not dock slates, but ships, drones, fighter jets, etc., and we are definitely ready to do more.
01:46The U.S. has already a wide military access to Greenland.
01:53Under the 1951 defense agreement, the U.S. can always ask for increasing its presence in Greenland,
02:03and therefore we wish to hear if the U.S. had any further requests to make in this aspect.
02:09We would examine any such request constructively.
02:14Greenland is, through the Kingdom of Denmark, a member of NATO,
02:19and has been that since the very founding of NATO in 1949, and is therefore also covered by Article 5.
02:28We have been pushing for quite a while in NATO for a stronger collective role in Greenland together with a number of allies,
02:37and we are eager to work with the U.S. on advancing this agenda, and we are prepared to go further.
02:46Therefore, our aim was to find a common understanding on all these points and to launch, if possible, further in-depth work to deliver on them.
02:57On this basis, we had what I will describe as a frank but also constructive discussion.
03:04The discussions focused on how to ensure the long-term security in Greenland.
03:09And here, our perspectives continue to differ, I must say.
03:14The President has made his view clear, and we have a different position.
03:20We, the Kingdom of Denmark, continue to believe that also the long-term security of Greenland can be ensured inside the current framework.
03:31The 1951 agreement on the defense of Greenland, as well as the NATO treaty.
03:37For us, ideas that would not respect territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenland people are, of course, totally unacceptable.
03:52And we, therefore, still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agreed to disagree.
03:58And therefore, we will, however, continue to talk.
04:01We have decided to form a high-level working group to explore if we can find a common way forward.
04:09The group, in our view, should focus on how to address the American security concerns while, at the same time, respecting the red lines of the Kingdom of Denmark.
04:20We expect that such a group will meet for a first time within a matter of weeks.
04:27And then I will pass the floor to my colleague from Greenland, Vivian Mosbert.
04:31Thank you so much.
04:33Not repeating what already been said here.
04:36So I would like to say something in my own language, because there are many, many people in Greenland that follows.
04:45And for that, I hope that you will allow me.
04:49So, as I said that, I would like to say something in my own language from the country in the country and in the country.
05:12I think that our meeting today and our commitment to find the right path is something that gives us to be able to see forward.
05:35And by saying that, I also committed on what Foreign Minister Lars Lykke Rasmussen already said.
05:45So thank you for that.
05:46Thank you. And then I think we can take a few questions. Tom from BBC.
05:50Yes.
06:05You mentioned the job slaves. In terms of what you've announced, in terms of beating up security in the Arctic, when you hear that kind of language,
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