Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has agreed to discuss Denmark’s stance on Greenland directly with US President Donald Trump. Trump had challenged Rasmussen to convey Denmark’s position face to face, to which Rasmussen responded affirmatively, citing his prior experience in dealing with Trump.
During an interview with Danish Broadcasting Corporation, Rasmussen expressed his willingness for a direct exchange with Trump, stating, “I’d actually like to say it to his face. I’ve also said other things to his face. I think I can handle that.” This comes in the wake of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s assertion that Denmark will not negotiate its sovereignty, in response to US threats of tariffs over the Greenland issue.
Frederiksen emphasized that Denmark has never sought conflicts but is now facing threats from its closest ally concerning Danish territory and Greenlandic self-determination. She warned that a trade war could lead to job losses on both sides of the Atlantic and called for preparations in case such a scenario unfolds.
In a recent social media post, Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on goods from European countries opposing his Greenland ambitions. The escalating tensions have prompted EU leaders to convene an emergency summit in Brussels to address the situation. European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill mentioned that the EU could consider renewing a tariff package or implementing anti-coercion measures in response.
