Denmark wishes for 'common way forward' with Trump, President undeterred in quest for Greenland

Denmark will join a working group to discuss Greenland's future, an autonomous Danish territory, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told US media outlets on Wednesday after meeting with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio alongside his Greenlandic counterpart Vivian Motzfeldt in Washington, DC.

The Danish FM clarified to the press that any “ideas that would not respect [the] territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of self-determination of the Greenlandic people are, of course, totally unacceptable."

“We therefore still have a fundamental disagreement, but we also agree to disagree, and therefore we will, however, continue to talk,” he said.

"The United States needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security. It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building. NATO should be leading the way for us to get it," Trump wrote.

The European Parliament may pause implementation of a new trade deal between the European Union and the United States in light of Trump's recent threats to seize Greenland, European news outlets reported on Wednesday.

The European Parliament has been debating legislative proposals to remove many of the EU's import duties on US goods - the bulk of the trade deal with the US - and to continue zero duties for US lobsters, initially agreed with Trump in 2020. It was due to set its position in votes on January 26-27, which the MEPs said should now be postponed.

European Parliament leaders on Wednesday called on the EU executive and member states to offer "concrete and tangible support" to Greenland and Denmark as they condemned demands by the US to take over Greenland.

"Statements made by the Trump administration regarding Greenland, constitute a blatant challenge to international law, to the principles of the United Nations Charter and to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a NATO ally," the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament said in a joint statement.

"The security of the Arctic is a strategic priority for the European Union, and we are firmly committed to safeguarding it," they added.

Also on Wednesday, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that several Swedish military officers would be arriving in Greenland at Denmark's request. "They are part of a group from several allied countries," the prime minister wrote on X. "Together, they will prepare for upcoming elements within the framework of the Danish exercise Operation Arctic Endurance."

A reconnaissance deployment could come as early as Thursday, the newspaper said, citing German government and parliamentary sources.

Democratic and Republican US lawmakers said last week they expected the US Senate would eventually vote on legislation seeking to rein in Trump's efforts to seize Greenland from Denmark, a longtime US ally.

Trump has repeatedly said Washington must own Greenland to prevent Russia or China from occupying the strategically located and minerals-rich Arctic territory, should its residents seek and achieve independence from Denmark. He says a US military presence there is not enough.

Buying Greenland could cost as much as $700 billion - more than half of the US Defense Department's annual budget- according to NBC, citing three experts familiar with the cost estimate.

Leading members of the cross-parliamentary trade committee met on Wednesday morning to discuss the issue and decide whether to postpone the vote. Ultimately, they made no decision and agreed to reconvene next week. A parliamentary source said left-leaning and centrist groups favored taking action, such as a postponement.

A group of 23 lawmakers also urged the EU assembly's president, Roberta Metsola, on Wednesday to pause work on the agreement until the US administration stopped its threats to take control of Greenland.

However, freezing the deal risks angering Trump, which could lead to higher US tariffs. The Trump administration has also ruled out any concessions, such as cutting tariffs on spirits or steel, until the deal is in place.