Grønlandskrisen: Schiller Institutes og EIRNS’s nylige dækning fra København 13.-22. januar 2026

Grønlandskrisen: Schiller Institutes og EIRNS’s nylige dækning fra København 13.-22. januar 2026
Alle artikler er af Michelle Rasmussen, Schiller Instituttet i Danmark. Udgivet af EIRNS (Executive Intelligence Review News Service) og nogle af eir.news.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance Will Chair Jan. 14 Meeting with Foreign Ministers of Denmark and Greenland eir.news

Jan. 13, 2026 (EIRNS)—Denmark and Greenland had requested the meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, to explain that Greenland is not for sale to the U.S. or for takeover. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was scheduled to be the host, but a few hours ago, it was announced that Vance would chair the meeting, which was moved to the West Wing of the White House. Vance has been very polemical against Denmark’s relations with Greenland, and travelled to the U.S. base in Greenland last year.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen held a press conference on Jan. 13 before the meeting, to make it clear that Greenland is not for sale or takeover by the U.S.

Nielsen’s statement that, if Greenland has to choose between Denmark or the U.S., they will choose Denmark, has gone around the world. [mr_]

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Report Back from Denmark and Greenland Foreign Ministers After Meeting Vance and Rubio
Michelle Rasmussen, udgivet på engelsk i eir.news

15. januar 2026– (artiklen er udgivet på eir.news den 16. januar 2016

På anmodning fra den danske og grønlandske regering blev det første diplomatiske møde om den amerikanske præsident Donald Trumps trusler om at overtage Grønland afholdt i går, den 14. januar. Vicepræsident JD Vance, udenrigsminister Marco Rubio og deres medarbejdere repræsenterede USA, mens den danske udenrigsminister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, den grønlandske udenrigsminister Vivian Motzfeldt og deres medarbejdere repræsenterede Kongeriget Danmark.

Hovedbudskabet var, at mødet blev afholdt i en respektfuld tone. De blev enige om at være uenige og fortsætte drøftelserne. Der vil blive nedsat en højtstående arbejdsgruppe, der skal undersøge, om der kan findes en løsning, der imødekommer USA’s sikkerhedsmæssige bekymringer, uden at overskride Kongeriget Danmarks røde linjer om opretholdelse af Kongeriget Danmarks suverænitet og Grønlands ret til selvbestemmelse.

Det andet punkt, Rasmussen fremhævede, var, at han og Motzfeldt var i stand til at modsætte sig fortællingen om, at kineserne og russerne udgør en overhængende trussel mod Grønland, og at det danske forsvar af Grønland er mere end »to hundeslædepatruljer«, idet han detaljeret redegjorde for de nuværende forsvarsmæssige styrker. Danmark og Grønland vil meget gerne tale med deres allierede USA om, hvordan man kan styrke sikkerheden, samtidig med at Kongeriget Danmarks territoriale integritet respekteres. Rasmussen påpegede, at Danmark har de længste diplomatiske forbindelser med USA af alle lande.

(Faktisk afholder NATO-tropper manøvrer i Grønland lige nu. Den svenske styrke er netop ankommet.)

Rasmussen sagde, at fredsdividenden førte til, at USA drastisk reducerede sin militære tilstedeværelse der, men nu er der en ny sikkerhedssituation, og Danmark er nødt til at reagere på det. Han hævdede også, at Grønland og Danmark for nogle år siden havde forhindret Kinas Bælte- og Vej-Initiativet i at komme til Grønland.

De danske kommentatorer var glade for, at udenrigsministrene ikke blev mødt med et fast ultimatum, men at der endelig vil være et forum for diplomatiske drøftelser i stedet for Trumps trusler på sociale medier og i pressen. Men de er også klar over, at intet er sikkert, når man har med Trump at gøre.

Samtidig med mødet offentliggjorde Det Hvide Hus imidlertid et meme, der viste to grønlandske hundeslæder, hvor den ene kørte mod et solrigt USA, og den anden mod et mørkt Rusland og Kina.

Det Hvide Hus’ pressesekretær Karoline Leavitt havde den 15. januar en helt anden rapport. Hun sagde: »De to parter blev enige om at nedsætte en arbejdsgruppe bestående af personer, der vil fortsætte med at føre tekniske forhandlinger om erhvervelsen af Grønland… Præsidenten har gjort sin prioritet helt klar. Han ønsker, at USA overtager Grønland. Han mener, at det er i vores bedste nationale sikkerhedsinteresse at gøre det.« [mr_]

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U.S. Congressional Delegation in Copenhagen To Oppose Acquiring Greenland eir.news

Jan. 16, 2026 (EIRNS)—A bipartisan U.S. Congressional delegation of 11 people was in Copenhagen on Jan. 16, meeting with government ministers, including the Danish Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Defense Minister, Greenland’s Prime Minister, and members of the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments. There were six American Senators and five Representatives, including two Republicans—Senator Lisa Ann Murkowski (AK) and Rep. Tom Tillis (NC). All have previously come out against Trump’s threat to acquire Greenland. The Greenlandic members of the Danish and Greenlandic Parliaments were grateful for the support and the start of a dialogue among the politicians.

U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) stressed that Russia and China are not threatening Greenland now, contrary to Trump administration charges. He stated that 75% of the U.S. population is against Trump’s Greenland policy. There was strong support for Denmark as a NATO ally. Murkowski said that the Congress has means to prevent taking over Greenland, and that what they learned on this trip would help inform the Congress and the population. [mr_]

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Trump Announces Higher Tariff Rates on Denmark and Its European Backers over Greenland eir.news
af Michelle Rasmussen og Carl Osgood

U.S. President Donald Trump, in a new statement posted on Truth Social on Jan. 17, announced higher tariff rates on Denmark and its European backers, until they agree to give Greenland to the United States. “We have subsidized Denmark, and all of the Countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them Tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration,” he said. “Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back—World Peace is at stake! China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.” And of course only the United States, led by Trump, can prevent such an awful scenario from coming about. He charged that Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland, along with Denmark, are playing a “very dangerous game” by sending token numbers of troops to Greenland.

Therefore, “Starting on February 1st, 2026, all of the above mentioned Countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland), will be charged a 10% Tariff on any and all goods sent to the United States of America,” Trump said. “On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%. This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland.”

This brings all these countries directly into the battle about Greenland. The EU is scheduled to vote on a big trade agreement with the United States on Janb. 19. What will happen?

On Jan. 17 thousands of people rallied in support of Greenlandic self-determination in Greenland’s capital of Nuuk, and in Copenhagen and other cities in Denmark. The aim of the protests is “to send a clear and unified message of respect for Greenland’s democracy and fundamental human rights,” said Uagut, an association of Greenlanders in Denmark, on its website, reported Deutsche Welle. The protesters were waving the red-and-white flag of Greenland and holding up signs and chanting, for instance, “Greenland Is Not For Sale.”

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Greenland: European Countries Respond to Trump’s Tariff Threat eir.news

Jan. 18, 2026 (EIRNS)—The eight European countries participating in military maneuvers in Greenland that U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Jan. 17 with 10% tariffs, rising to 25% if they don’t support his plan to acquire Greenland, responded with a joint declaration on Jan. 18. It stated that they “stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland.”

“As members of NATO, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise ‘Arctic Endurance’ conducted with Allies [in Greenland], responds to this necessity. It poses no threat to anyone. …

“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty,” the declaration concluded.
EU countries are in a crisis meeting as this report is being written. French President Emmanuel Macron is calling for counter-trade measures. As reported on Jan. 17, the EU is scheduled to vote on Monday, Jan. 19, on a large EU-U.S. trade agreement, but this crisis can change the result.

The Danish foreign minister visited Norway, Sweden and the U.K. on Jan. 18 to shore up support. [mr_]

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Trump Reportedly Tells Norway: No Peace Prize Means ‘No Obligation To Think Purely of Peace’ eir.news

Jan. 19, 2026 (EIRNS)—U.S. President Donald Trump has sent a message to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Store, telling him that because Norway did not award him the Nobel Peace Prize, he “no longer feel[s] an obligation to think purely of Peace.” He ends with a demand for control of Greenland.

The text, as published by the New York Times:

Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America. Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a “right of ownership” anyway? There are no written documents, it’s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre issued a public response, which states that “Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter.”

“As regards the Nobel Peace Prize,” he continued, “I have clearly explained, including to President Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.” [mr_]

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The 1916 U.S. Treaty Recognizing Danish Sovereignty Over Greenland

Jan. 20, 2026 (EIRNS)—U.S. President Donald Trump is wrong when he alleges that there is no paper recognizing Danish sovereignty over Greenland. There is even a U.S.-Danish treaty, which the U.S. signed when it bought the Virgin Islands from Denmark, previously called the Danish West Indies. From Aarhus University’s homepage: “On 4th August 1916, the American government issued a declaration to the Danish government that it would not raise objections if Denmark extended its interests in Greenland to include the entire island…. The declaration was included as an appendix to the contract concerning the sale of the Danish West Indies to the U.S.A., both of which were signed on 4th August 1916. The American Foreign Minister Robert Lansing (1864-1928) signed the declaration on behalf of the U.S.A. in support of Denmark’s claim to sovereignty over Greenland.” Here is the text:

“DECLARATION.

“In proceeding this day to the signature of the Convention respecting the cession of the Danish West-Indian Islands to the United States of America, the undersigned Secretary of State of the United States of America, duly authorized by his Government, has the honor to declare that the Government of the United States of America will not object to the Danish Government extending their political and economic interests to the whole of Greenland.

Robert Lansing.”

Here is the actual document in the Danish National Archives.

This, then, led to other countries recognizing Danish sovereignty over Greenland. On May 21, 1921, Denmark formally declared that all of Greenland was subject to Danish rule.

Also, after the only previous territorial dispute, which was with Norway, the International Court in The Hague recognized Danish sovereignty in 1933. For a more detailed history of Denmark-Greenland relations starting in the year 985, not including the above Lansing treaty, but including other, earlier international agreements which recognized Danish sovereignty of Greenland, there is a 9-minute video by Danish Member of Parliament Rasmus Jarlov, the chairman of the Defense Committee from the Conservative Party, filmed just before Trump was inaugurated as President. [mr_]

…….

Trump Says He Has Deal with NATO for Greenland, but Denmark and Greenland Don’t Know What It Is eir.news
Jan. 22, 2026 (EIRNS)—Trump claimed on Truth Social that during a “very productive meeting” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, they “formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region.” He added that “if consummated,” it would be “a great one for the United States … and all NATO Nations,” and announced that he would pause the tariffs set to go into effect on Feb. 1. “Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland,” he added. He named JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Steve Witkoff to lead the negotiations.

(Mark Rutte’s position at NATO does not give him authority to speak on behalf of Denmark or Greenland.)

So far, no concrete details of any agreement have been confirmed. Danmarks Radio says that security and mining are reportedly included in the agreement, as well as increased NATO presence in the Arctic.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded that Denmark supported a stronger NATO presence in the Arctic, but, “We can negotiate on all political issues…. But we cannot negotiate on our sovereignty.” She also said she was told Greenland’s sovereignty was not discussed in the Trump-Rutte meeting.

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a press conference that he does not have details on what Rutte and Trump discussed, but is relieved that Trump said he would not take Greenland by force. Everything can be negotiated except sovereignty, he said. He pointed out that the situation touches on much more than Greenland: It has implications for the Western alliance, principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and democracy. [mr_/jar]

Billede: Flickr: GRID-Arendal