Rubio to meet with Danish officials over Greenland

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Danish officials over Greenland next week, as President Trump has expressed his interest in acquiring the island territory as a strategic U.S. outpost.

Rubio said Wednesday that he will “have those conversations” on Greenland during his meeting with the Danes, The Hill news outlet reported. He did not specify the exact date and location of the meeting.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed the meeting Thursday.

“It is, of course, a sign that we now have the opportunity to talk directly instead of doing it through the media, and having a meeting is always a good idea,” Poulsen told Danish broadcaster DR.

Trump said Sunday that “we need Greenland from the standpoint of national security.” 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday, “The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief’s disposal.”

She clarified on Wednesday, saying “diplomacy” has always been the Trump administration’s “first option.”

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed back on Trump’s rhetoric, saying on Monday that a U.S. attack on Greenland would end the NATO alliance.

“If the U.S. chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, everything stops,” she said.