German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul downplayed the risk of a US attack on Greenland on Monday, following repeated threats from President Donald Trump to seize the island from Denmark, one of its NATO allies.

The US president heightened concerns by declaring on Sunday that Germany would take Greenland “one way or another” and ruled out the possibility of a lease, stating that “we need a title” to the territory. Following a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reporters asked the German Foreign Minister about unilateral military action by Trump, to which he replied: “I have no indication that this is being seriously considered.” “On the contrary, I believe there is a common interest in addressing the security issues arising in the Arctic region,” Wadephul said. “NATO is only now in the process of developing more concrete plans in this regard, and these will be discussed jointly with our US partners,” he added. In a statement about the meeting between Rubio and Wadephul, the State Department said that they addressed “urgent global challenges,” avoiding mentioning Greenland among the topics discussed. Wadephul's visit comes days before talks to be held this week in Washington between Rubio and Wadephul. and senior diplomats from Denmark and Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory.

Following Trump's threats, the Greenlandic government said on Monday that it would not accept a US acquisition under "any circumstances."

Trump has repeatedly pointed to the increasing level of activity in the Arctic by Russia and China to justify why the United States needs control of Greenland.

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