Denmark, Greenland Request Rubio Meeting as Trump Revives Push to Acquire Greenland

Leaders from Denmark and Greenland are urgently requesting a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio amid rising tensions over President Donald Trump’s revived efforts to acquire Greenland as a U.S. territory.

Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt and Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Rasmussen confirmed they have reached out to Rubio’s office, citing the need to directly address recent statements and proposals coming out of Washington. Both officials noted they’ve sought such a meeting for over a year but were repeatedly denied or ignored.

“The strong request for a meeting is related to the U.S.’s claims about our country,” Motzfeldt said, calling the prolonged silence from Washington “unacceptable.” Rasmussen added that the meeting would aim to clarify “certain misunderstandings” regarding America’s intentions.

The diplomatic push follows President Trump’s bold statement this week that acquiring Greenland is a matter of national security. The White House confirmed that military options remain on the table as part of the broader strategy to bring Greenland under U.S. control.

“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States,” a White House spokesman said. “The president and his team are discussing a range of options… and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”

Rubio attempted to calm some of the backlash, telling lawmakers that the administration’s strategy includes diplomatic and economic avenues — not just military ones — and that Trump’s preferred outcome is to negotiate a peaceful purchase.

Still, international criticism is mounting. Several European powers, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Poland, released a joint statement opposing any U.S. acquisition of Greenland, standing firmly behind Denmark’s sovereignty.

Trump has long argued that Greenland’s geographic location makes it essential for Arctic defense and economic competition. He also framed Danish ownership as incompatible with the Monroe Doctrine, which opposes European entrenchment in the Western Hemisphere.

Tensions between the Trump administration and Denmark have flared before, especially after Trump canceled a 2019 visit when Denmark rebuffed his initial interest in purchasing Greenland. Now, with Trump in his second term and foreign policy increasingly assertive, both allies and adversaries are watching to see just how far this new push will go.

Greenland, a self-governing territory, has already signaled that it opposes any plan that does not respect its autonomy. Whether Rubio grants the meeting or not, the political fallout from Trump’s Arctic ambitions is just beginning.