Diplomatic talks between the United States, Greenland and Denmark have begun in an effort to resolve a crisis sparked by President Donald Trump's threats against the Arctic territory. The discussions mark a shift from confrontation to negotiation after months of rising tensions.
Denmark's foreign ministry confirmed the start of the talks on Wednesday, noting that senior officials from all three parties had met. The ministry stated that the meetings aimed to 'discuss how we can address American concerns about security in the Arctic while respecting the Kingdom's red lines.' Both Denmark and the US are founding members of NATO.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier said that the United States now has a process in place regarding Greenland and that technical-level meetings with Greenlandic and Danish officials would follow. Trump has repeatedly called for US control over Greenland, citing national security concerns related to Russia and China.
The dispute had threatened to fracture the transatlantic alliance before being moved to a diplomatic track. The talks are seen as a step towards de-escalation while maintaining the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark.
