Greenland signals cautious progress in US talks

Greenland’s foreign minister, Múte B. Egede, has expressed cautious optimism about negotiations with the United States, according to Danish broadcaster DR.

“From the Greenlandic side, we are optimistic. It is, of course, a cautious optimism,” Egede told DR.

His comments echoed Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, who earlier said there was reason for “a certain cautious optimism” about the talks between the United States, Greenland and Denmark.

The three parties are negotiating through a high-level working group on a possible agreement addressing US security interests in Greenland while respecting the Kingdom’s red lines, particularly its sovereignty.

“We can see that the dialogue has recently begun moving in a direction that we believe is the right one,” Egede said.

Egede is due to travel to the United States on Sunday to attend the United Nations General Assembly. He did not comment on whether the trip would include further negotiations.

Asked how close the parties were to reaching an agreement, Egede said: “The more you talk to each other, the closer you get to an agreement.”