US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced plans to meet with Danish officials next week, amid escalating tensions over Donald Trump's threats to take control of Greenland. The meeting comes as Nato leaders are struggling to respond to the US president's assertions that his administration is willing to use military force to acquire the Arctic territory.
Rubio did not directly address whether the Trump administration would risk the stability of the Nato alliance by pursuing a military option for Greenland, but said he was committed to discussing the issue with Danish officials. He stressed that every US president has the authority to address national security threats through military means, without elaborating further on the matter.
The White House has also weighed in, stating that Trump's administration is exploring potential options for acquiring Greenland, including a possible purchase from Denmark. The press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, emphasized that diplomacy would be the preferred approach but did not rule out the possibility of military action.
European leaders have rallied around Denmark and Greenland, with French Foreign Minister Jean-NoΓ«l Barrot confirming that an urgent meeting had been requested by Danish officials. Barrot stated that he had spoken with Rubio, who had ruled out the possibility of an invasion of Greenland.
The situation has sparked tensions between the US and European allies, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying that the territory's future should be decided by Denmark and Greenland alone. Trump has dismissed these concerns, stating that Nato would remain committed to its alliance even if it didn't receive support from its members.
The Danish parliament held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the situation, with Foreign Minister Lars LΓΈkke Rasmussen accusing the US of giving a "false representation" of the security situation in Greenland.
Rubio did not directly address whether the Trump administration would risk the stability of the Nato alliance by pursuing a military option for Greenland, but said he was committed to discussing the issue with Danish officials. He stressed that every US president has the authority to address national security threats through military means, without elaborating further on the matter.
The White House has also weighed in, stating that Trump's administration is exploring potential options for acquiring Greenland, including a possible purchase from Denmark. The press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, emphasized that diplomacy would be the preferred approach but did not rule out the possibility of military action.
European leaders have rallied around Denmark and Greenland, with French Foreign Minister Jean-NoΓ«l Barrot confirming that an urgent meeting had been requested by Danish officials. Barrot stated that he had spoken with Rubio, who had ruled out the possibility of an invasion of Greenland.
The situation has sparked tensions between the US and European allies, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying that the territory's future should be decided by Denmark and Greenland alone. Trump has dismissed these concerns, stating that Nato would remain committed to its alliance even if it didn't receive support from its members.
The Danish parliament held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the situation, with Foreign Minister Lars LΓΈkke Rasmussen accusing the US of giving a "false representation" of the security situation in Greenland.