Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said last weekend that negotiations between the US, Denmark and Greenland have made some progress, but emphasized that the crisis related to the US's desire for Greenland has not been resolved definitively.
We have not yet emerged from the crisis and there is still no solution," Foreign Minister Rasmussen said. This statement shows that although the atmosphere of dialogue has eased, fundamental differences in Greenland's sovereignty and future orientation still exist.
Denmark has repeatedly reaffirmed its "red line" of not accepting any actions that violate the sovereignty of Greenland - an autonomous territory belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark.
This stance was emphasized by Copenhagen in the context of Greenland public opinion increasingly concerned about the increasing presence of the US on this large but sparsely populated island.
According to a poll published by The Copenhagen Post, 76% of Greenland people oppose becoming part of the United States.
The survey results reflect the psychology of caution, even opposition, of the majority of local people in the face of signals that Washington wants to expand its influence in the Arctic.
In the time before that, US President Donald Trump publicly expressed his desire to "take control" of Greenland, considering this an important strategic interest for US national security.
He once left open the possibility of achieving this goal through peaceful trade, even not excluding the scenario of using military measures.
However, since meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last month, President Trump has significantly cooled down his tough rhetoric. He declared the possibility of military intervention, although still affirmed that Greenland plays a key role in the US security strategy in the Arctic region.
At the same time, US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio received Greenland and Danish officials at the White House. The meeting was expected to open a new direction for trilateral dialogue. However, weeks later, the specific results are still unclear, except for positive signals from the meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Rutte.
Greenland's foreign affairs chief Vivian Motzfeldt also acknowledged that the negotiation process is still long and complex. "We have not achieved what we want," she said. "This will be a long road and it is still too early to say where we will go.
Analysts believe that Greenland is facing increasing pressure in the context of increasing geopolitical competition in the Arctic. This island has an important strategic location, possesses significant mineral potential and is located on maritime routes that could become more bustling as ice melts due to climate change.
In that context, although negotiations with the US have shown signs of progress, Greenland and Denmark still show caution. Balancing security, economic interests and the right to self-determination of local people is considered a difficult problem, which cannot be solved in a day or two.
