U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday (3 June) that ongoing discussions with Denmark and Greenland over the use of the island for collective defence are “in a good place.”
Speaking during a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Rubio said the talks are continuing on a regular basis and are focused on strengthening missile defence and broader NATO security arrangements.
“We are actually involved in conversations with Greenland and Denmark on the use of Greenland for collective defence for all of us. It’s a key part of missile defence, but we’re involved in those talks right now. I think we’re in a good place on it now,” Rubio said.
He added that discussions are taking place monthly and suggested further progress could be announced in the future, saying, “I think we’ll have pretty good news on it at some point.”
Rubio’s comments came during questioning from Representative Sarah McBride, who asked whether he was aware that Greenland is part of Denmark and whether the U.S. needs to own territory within NATO to ensure defence.
When asked directly about Greenland’s status, Rubio responded, “For now.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has previously suggested that the United States should acquire or control Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, which has triggered political tensions between Washington and Copenhagen.
The issue has unfolded alongside a broader political shift in Denmark following the formation of a new centre-left coalition government led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Frederiksen has said her government will “stand firm on the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to self-determination,” while also prioritising defence cooperation and regional security.
Her administration has also been working on diplomatic engagement related to Greenland, as well as a military build-up in response to wider European security concerns linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Despite earlier tensions, the Greenland issue has increasingly moved into structured diplomatic discussions between Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk.
Rubio said he agrees with Trump’s position that existing basing agreements are not sufficient, arguing that ownership of territory would simplify defence arrangements, although he stressed that negotiations are ongoing.
“There will be pretty good news on it at some point,” he said.
Georgia has been formally integrated into the European Union's Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), bringing Anaklia Deep-Sea Port, Georgi...
Türkiye’s foreign minister has renewed calls for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to disarm and disband, during talks with...
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign ...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
U.S. Central Command said 101 commercial vessels have been redirected in the Strait of Hormuz, while oil prices rose more than three per cent amid fresh regional attacks and supply concerns.
Swedes vote in an election on Sunday (13 September) that could see the far-right enter government for the first time if the country's right-wing parties can form a majority.
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said an attack on a train near the Polish border was an attempt to intimidate Ukraine's allies.
A Russian strike on a farm warehouse in Pryluky, north-central Ukraine, has killed at least three people, local police said. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said an attack on a train near the Polish border was an attempt to intimidate Ukraine's allies.
European leaders are meeting in Finland for a high-level summit on Arctic security and cooperation as the region takes on greater strategic importance.
Amazon has paused its operations with 21 Air, the Miami-based cargo carrier that operated an Amazon Air flight which crashed at Miami International Airport last weekend, killing five people.
Voters in the southern Philippines are casting ballots in a historic election that could shape the future of one of the country’s most conflict-affected regions and put a decades-long peace process to a crucial test.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed back against growing calls for the artificial intelligence (AI) industry to slow down, arguing that maintaining America’s lead over China is more important.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment