The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced he will hold talks with Denmark next week amid concerns over America's desire to acquire the Danish territory of Greenland.
Rubio's statement to reporters followed a closed-door briefing with US senators and comes a day after the White House indicated that President Donald Trump discussed options, including military force, to acquire Greenland.
Concerns about the territory's future became prominent after Trump's recent military action in Venezuela aimed at seizing control from President Nicolás Maduro.
The Trump administration argues that Greenland is vital for US security, while Denmark warns that any military action would jeopardize the NATO alliance.
If the president identifies a threat to the national security of the United States, every president retains the option to address it through military means, Rubio said. However, he emphasized the importance of diplomacy in settling disputes.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot mentioned that Rubio had assured him there would be no invasion of Greenland. European leaders have united in support of Denmark, asserting that decisions concerning Greenland should solely involve its people and Denmark.
Highlighting the joint sentiment, a day after the US military action in Venezuela, Katie Miller, wife of a senior Trump aide, shared a map of Greenland adorned in the US flag, raising further questions about the US's interests in the territory.
An Inuit resident of Greenland expressed distress over the international dialogue surrounding Greenland's status, stating it feels dehumanizing to be viewed merely as a territory to claim.
