Danish defense minister calls planned Greenland talks with US ‘really good news’

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Denmark’s Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen on Thursday called a planned meeting with the US on Greenland next week “really good news.”

"I think that is really good news, because it shows that we now have the opportunity to talk directly to each other instead of doing it through the media, and having a meeting is always a good idea," Poulsen told public broadcaster DR.

He reiterated that it is important for the conversation to take place in a confidential setting and not in front of the media.

“This is the dialogue that is necessary, which the government has called for together with the Greenlandic government,” Poulsen added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that he will have a meeting with Danish officials next week, after Denmark requested talks amid rising tensions following President Donald Trump’s threats to Greenland.

A day after the US military operation in Venezuela that captured President Nicolas Maduro, Trump on Sunday renewed his call for a takeover of Greenland for "national security" interests.

“We need Greenland, from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it,” he said when asked about any potential US action against Greenland.

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and has repeatedly rejected proposals suggesting any transfer of sovereignty to the US.

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged Trump to "stop the threats" and that "everything would stop" if it is attacked.