After meetings between Trump administration officials and Danish and Greenland officials, European diplomats expressed unease with U.S. Vice President Vance, calling him "hate us."

Vance joined Secretary of State Rubio in talks with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Malmendahl. Although the two sides ended the diplomatic discussions, there remained "fundamental differences." Rasmussen admitted, "We didn't manage to change the U.S. position," but said this was expected.

Trump has consistently insisted on taking over Greenland and has not ruled out the possibility of using force—despite Republicans believing such a scenario is unlikely. An anonymous European diplomat said that Vance served as Trump's "attack dog" and said, "Vance hates us."

Rasmussen said that Denmark, Greenland, and the United States did agree to establish a high-level working group, "to explore whether we can find a common way forward." He added that he expects the working group to hold its first meeting "within a few weeks." Danish and Greenland officials did not specify who would join the working group or provide other details.

Rasmussen said the working group should focus on how to address U.S. security concerns while respecting Denmark's "red lines," "I don't know if this is feasible," but he hopes this move will "lower the temperature." Additionally, he did not elaborate on what compromise might look like.

Denmark's Defense Minister Trine Skejold Pedersen said Thursday that having this working group is better than having no working group, "It's a step in the right direction." At least it allows both sides to talk to each other rather than speak behind each other's backs.

Trump repeatedly argued that, for national security reasons, the U.S. needs to control Greenland. Interior Secretary Doug Bernier posted a map of the U.S.'s "new interior" on X, which showed a new territory range from Anchorage, Alaska, to Washington, D.C., to the capital of Greenland, Nuuk.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski introduced the "NATO Solidarity Protection Act," which would prohibit the use of any congressional funds to take over the territories of NATO allies, including Greenland. A bipartisan group of 34 lawmakers also introduced a companion bill in the House, led by Democratic Representative Bill Keating. Republican Don Bacon was the only Republican original co-sponsor of the bill. Bacon also threatened Thursday that he would consider impeaching Trump if he takes military action against Greenland.

Danish Ambassador to the U.S. Jesper Møller Sørensen and Head of the Greenland Representation in the U.S. Jacob Isboe-Sørensen met with more than a dozen U.S. lawmakers in early January. After meeting with Republican Senator and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, Isboe-Sørensen told reporters, "Greenland will not be sold."

Original article: toutiao.com/article/7595957421147783718/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.