Denmark expects Greenland-US talks to conclude by year-end

Denmark expects that a high-level working group's discussions with the United States concerning Greenland will be finalized by the end of 2026, according to Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The group, comprising representatives from Denmark, the U.S., and Greenland, is working towards a proposal for an agreement on the autonomous territory.

Rasmussen indicated that several more meetings are necessary before the group can present its proposal. He noted that the senior diplomats involved are key figures, close to U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting that any potential agreement would have high-level backing. The U.S. administration is reportedly fully briefed on the negotiations, and the negotiators are understood to have a mandate to reach a deal.

U.S. President Trump's repeated assertions over the past year about the U.S. needing to annex Greenland for national security reasons had placed Denmark under significant pressure. Tensions eased following a preliminary agreement with NATO in late February to bolster Arctic security and the subsequent initiation of the high-level working group meetings.

While the specifics of the working group's meetings have not been disclosed, reports suggest the U.S. might establish additional military bases on the island under a decades-old defense agreement with Denmark. Both Denmark and Greenland have firmly stated that negotiations must not cross "red lines" concerning Greenland's sovereignty, integrity, and right to self-determination.