US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on June 3 that talks with Denmark and Greenland about using the island for collective defense are "in a good place" [1, 2]. He said the negotiations focus on Greenland's role in missile defense and broader security cooperation.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The United States has military access to Greenland under a 1951 defense agreement with Denmark [2]. Rubio described the current discussions as "high-level technical talks" and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement, saying, "I think we'll have pretty good news on it at some point" [1].
Rubio also agreed with former President Donald Trump's view that basing agreements are insufficient and that it is easier to defend territory when the US exercises more direct control. "Trump's view is that it's a lot easier to defend it when you have control and complete control of it," Rubio said [2]. Earlier, Representative Sarah McBride asked Rubio if the US needs to own land within NATO to ensure its defense, reflecting ongoing debate about the strategic value of Greenland.
In January 2026, Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte discussed a Greenland defense framework that temporarily cooled talk of US annexation of the island [2]. Despite that, Trump has repeatedly pushed for the US to acquire or control Greenland to boost defense capabilities [1, 2].
Meanwhile, Trump allies recently revived provocative talk about the US exercising control over Canada as the "51st State," which Canadian leaders rejected. On June 2, US Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, reposted a Trump social media post calling Canada the 51st state, triggering rebukes from Canadian officials [2].
For now, the US administration continues its diplomatic engagement with Denmark and Greenland over military arrangements on the island [1]. Rubio said, "We are actually involved in conversations with Greenland and Denmark on the use of Greenland for collective defense for all of us. It's a key part of missile defense" [1]. The talks remain ongoing with further developments expected.
