Lars Løkke Rasmussen is cautiously positive about the latest developments regarding US moves on Greenland.
"It's been a good day. The situation was much better this morning than when I woke up yesterday," he says.
Løkke Rasmussen says that now, after recent trips, a door has been opened to proper negotiations with the US. That is why he is careful with his words.
"So my mission, as boring as it sounds, is to avoid creating headlines and move this conversation into a real meeting room," he says.
"And there our position is the same as before: we have agreements between the Kingdom and the United States that can, in principle, satisfy all American wishes."
Same goal, different methods
Løkke Rasmussen is asked what details are hidden in the framework for an agreement that the US and NATO leaders negotiated on Wednesday, and what Denmark is prepared to put on the table in a negotiation.
Both questions receive brief answers.
"I think it's a good idea that we increase our involvement in NATO, with the aim of having a more permanent presence in the Arctic. That's what we will strive for," he says.
"I think it also matches the American president's idea. We have the same goals but not necessarily the same methods. Now there is an opening for us to be able to make those things fit together."
Stenergard: We're prepared
The press conference is being held together with Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M). She says she is pleased with the close cooperation with Denmark in the current political situation.
"The best thing we can do now is to lower the temperature and have conversations instead of threatening each other. So I'm glad we've had that development in the last 24 hours."
The government has been critical of Trump's Greenland request, but Sweden has not broken with the US, says Malmer Stenergard.
"The US is important to Sweden."
"But I also want to be very clear that if it is needed in the future for us to be able to lower the temperature, we are prepared to once again raise our voices and show that we clearly stand by Denmark's side."
