Reaction from Copenhagen following talks in Washington over Trump's Greenland demands

(15 Jan 2026) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4630513 RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Copenhagen, Denmark - 15 January 2026 ++NIGHT SHOTS++ 1. Various of Danish newspapers 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Bastian Lindberg, 30, from Copenhagen, works in accounting: "I'm assuming that we'll figure something out. It doesn't seem like they're immediately going to jump us but it seems Europe is backing us up. So, hopefully we'll just figure something out at some point. Surprisingly aggressive when we're all supposed to be allies. Supposed to." 3. Danish newspapers 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Line McGee, 38, from Copenhagen: "I think the Danish delegation with Lars Løkke Rasmussens and then the Greenlandic foreign minister, I think they did very well at the talks. It seems like they got some way to explaining the Danish and Greenlandic position to the Americans. There are still considerable disagreements. Obviously I think, as most Danish people think, it's completely unacceptable that America is threatening the integrity of the Danish kingdom and the Greenlandic right to self-determination. But I'm glad that there is some sort of diplomatic track now that seems to be moving forward. I don't think the threat has gone away. But I feel slightly better than I did yesterday." 5. Wide of cityscape with traffic lights and buildings in the background 6. Various of pedestrians, street scenes STORYLINE: Troops from NATO countries, including France and Germany, are arriving in Greenland to boost security. This follows talks in Washington on Wednesday between Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. that highlighted disagreements over Greenland's future. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the deployment of French troops, with Germany sending a reconnaissance team on Thursday. Denmark is also increasing its military presence. The talks focused on U.S. intentions to take over Greenland for its mineral resources amid rising Russian and Chinese interest. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed concerns over Trump's intentions. In Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, local residents told The Associated Press they were glad the first meeting between Greenlandic, Danish and American officials had taken place but suggested it left more questions than answers. Several people said they viewed Denmark’s decision to send more troops, and promises of support from other NATO allies, as protection against possible U.S. military action. But European military officials have not suggested the goal is to deter a U.S. move against the island. Danes in Copenhagen on Thursday echoed that sentiment. Bastian Lindberg, a 30 year-old accounting worker from Copenhagen, said the US President's approach was "surprisingly aggressive when we're all supposed to be allies," but assumed they would come to an agreement adding talks should continue. "It doesn't seem like they're immediately going to jump us but it seems Europe is backing us up. So, hopefully we'll just figure something out at some point," Lindberg said. Line McGee, 38, from Copenhagen said both Danish and Greenlandic representatives had done well at Wednesday's talks despite disagreements remaining "Obviously I think, as most Danish people think, it's completely unacceptable that America is threatening the integrity of the Danish kingdom and the Greenlandic right to self-determination," McGee said. "But I'm glad that there is some sort of diplomatic track now that seems to be moving forward. I don't think the threat has gone away. But I feel slightly better than I did yesterday," she added. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...