Greenland, Denmark and the US Hold Secret Meeting in Washington

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION / Visit Greenland

JAKARTA - Representatives of Greenland, Denmark, and the United States (US) held a secret meeting in Washington, Thursday (28/5) to discuss an agreement on future relations, according to a report by Danish television station DR citing a number of sources.

According to the report, Danish and Greenland negotiators made it very clear to US representatives that there would be no talks on the release of sovereignty. Once an agreement is reached, Greenland will not become part of the United States.

The meeting was attended by Danish diplomat Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, Greenland representative Mininnguaq Kleist, and Michael Needham, who on Tuesday was appointed deputy assistant president for national security, reported DR.

The parties also discussed the potential presence of other countries in Greenland, specifically mentioning China, while Russia was not mentioned at all, a source told DR.

According to the broadcaster's source, US President Donald Trump "has not forgotten Greenland," and "a very clear and strong position" from him was seen in the negotiation room.

DR added that the visit of Special Envoy for Greenland Jeff Landry to the island on May 17 did not help the negotiation process between the parties. Landry arrived in Greenland and the next day said Trump sent him to make friends.

During Landry's visit, the US special envoy met with Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and local residents to identify economic opportunities for the US in Greenland.

Landry held a number of meetings on the island and then conveyed a picture of the situation and the wishes of the Greenlandic people to the US media, which was considered not entirely reflective of reality, said DR.

Trump has repeatedly said the island should be part of the US.

The Danish government and Greenland have warned Washington against taking over the island, stressing that they expect respect for their territorial integrity.