Greenlandic and Danish foreign ministers will meet US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington after renewed threats of taking control over Greenland, an autonomous territory Denmark.
Since returning to office nearly a year ago, President Donald Trump has mused about taking over the strategic and sparsely populated Arctic island.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen sought the talks in Washington, saying he was hoping to "clear up certain misunderstandings".
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen reiterated Greenland's commitment to Denmark, dismissing the prospect of becoming a US territory.
"We face a geopolitical crisis, and if we have to choose between the US and Denmark here and now, then we choose Denmark," Mr Nielsen told reporters in Copenhagen yesterday, standing alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. "West and united in the Kingdom of Denmark."
Denmark, which has managed Greenland for centuries, faces growing pressure to bolster Arctic defences to counter geopolitical tensions.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen plans to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels next week, with multinational NATO exercises in Greenland scheduled this year.
Ms Frederiksen acknowledged the challenges presented by the heightened US interest.
"It is hard to stand up to the US, our most important ally," she said. "But the hardest part may still be ahead of us."
Greenland's political landscape appears to be shifting, with leaders and residents focusing on long-term independence rather than immediate autonomy.
"In the current circumstances, I think it would be wise for Greenland to commit to Denmark for a very, very long time and remain under the NATO security umbrella," said Finn Meinel, a Nuuk-based lawyer.
Mr Trump, when asked about Greenland's leader saying that the island prefers to remain an autonomous territory of Denmark, said: "Well that's their problem."
"Don't know anything about him, but that's going to be a big problem for him," the US president said.
Mr Trump said on Friday that he wanted Greenland "whether they like it or not" and "if we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way".
According to Mr Trump, the United States needs Greenland due to the threat of a takeover by Russia or China.
The two rival powers have both stepped up activity in the Arctic, where ice is melting due to climate change, but neither claims Greenland.
Incorporating Greenland, which has a population of 57,000, would catapult the United States past China and Canada to be the world's second largest country in land mass after Russia.
Mr Vance visited Greenland in March. He stayed only at Pituffik, the longstanding US base on the island, and did not mingle with local residents.
It has not been announced if the Greenland meeting will be open to the press.
"If the US continues with 'we have to have Greenland at all cost', it could be a very short meeting," said Penny Naas, a senior vice president at the German Marshall Fund of the US, a Washington think tank.
"If there is a slight nuance to it, it could lead to a different conversation," she said.
Greenland's top diplomat Vivian Motzfeldt will join the talks. Her government as well as Denmark have been firm against Mr Trump's designs.
"One thing must be clear to everyone: Greenland does not want to be owned by the United States," Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said at a press conference ahead of the White House talks.
He added: "Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States.
"Greenland does not want to be part of the United States."
He was speaking alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who said it had not been easy to stand up to "completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally".
Denmark has rejected US claims it is not protecting Greenland from Russia and China, recalling that it has invested almost 90 billion kroner (€12bln) to enhance its military presence in the Arctic.
Denmark is a founding member of NATO and its military joined the United States in the wars in Afghanistan and, controversially, Iraq.
Shortly after the White House talks, a senior delegation from the US Congress - mostly Democrats, but with one Republican - will visit Copenhagen to offer solidarity.
"President Trump's continued threats toward Greenland are unnecessary and would only weaken our NATO alliance," said Dick Durbin, the number-two Senate Democrat.
Diplomatic path needs to be exhausted - Irish MEP
An Irish MEP said that tougher measures from the European Union are inevitable if the US acts to take over Greenland.
Barry Andrews was speaking after being appointed as European Parliament rapporteur for EU-Greenland relations.
"I think what we want to see is the diplomatic path that has been explored today in the White House exhausted to the greatest extent possible," the Fianna Fáil MEP told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
"Inevitably, we will also have to explore tougher measures if the US decides to do things unilaterally, including, for example, a freeze on the trade agreement.
"That is being proposed, and that will have to be tabled before the Trade Committee in the European Parliament in the next few days."
