U.S. envoy Howery to meet Greenland, Danish officials at joint summit amid strained relations

President Trump’s ambassador to Denmark, Kenneth Howery, is in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, this week for a series of talks with foreign diplomats from Greenland and Denmark, even as the U.S. pushes for more control over the island nation and its mineral-rich resources.

The visit kicks off on Monday, when Mr. Howery will participate in the Joint Committee meetings with Greenland officials. Leaders will discuss ways to improve cooperation in various civilian arenas, according to Greenland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Science.

Mr. Howery will also participate in talks with the Permanent Committee, a collection of Danish officials, to discuss defense and security cooperation.

The meetings are intended to promote “direct dialogue and cooperation” between the U.S., Greenland and Denmark, on civilian and military issues, Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said.

“Through these successful meetings, we ensure that the interests of the Greenlanders and the Americans are respected for the benefit of all parties,” Ms. Motzfeldt said in a statement.

The Permanent Committee and Joint Committee meetings are held annually. Typically, the meetings alternate locations between the U.S. and Greenland, with last year’s meeting held in the U.S. While the talks normally cover ways for Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. to collaborate more effectively on defense and civilian issues, Mr. Howery may take this week as an opportunity to push for more control over the island nation.

That would be in line with Mr. Trump’s desires to take over Greenland. The president and his allies argued earlier this year that it is imperative for Washington to have direct control over the island, both due to its strategic location in the North Atlantic Ocean and its natural resources.

Greenland, whose foreign policy and security are largely controlled by Denmark, has loudly rejected U.S. calls to relinquish sovereignty. Denmark and most of the European Union have also rebuked the Trump administration for its expressed interest in Greenland.

Tensions escalated between the U.S. and Nuuk in August after a report uncovered that several individuals with ties to the White House had worked to create a covert influence campaign in Greenland. Mark Stroh, the chief U.S. diplomat in Denmark, was summoned to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to answer questions about the alleged operation.