Secretary Pompeo Travels to Denmark to Deepen Our Historic Alliance

"The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States are steadfast allies and partners, and we greatly value Denmark as a leader in promoting peace throughout the world."

- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, June 5, 2020

Secretary Pompeo will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 22, 2020, where he will meet Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod. While in Denmark, the Secretary will also participate in a meeting with counterparts from Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.

THE U.S. AND DENMARK ARE STEADFAST ALLIES AND PARTNERS

• The U.S. and the Kingdom of Denmark are steadfast allies and partners. Our partnership, based on mutual democratic values and a commitment to peace and prosperity, is strong and multifaceted. We are great friends who trust one another and share essential values, such as freedom of expression and freedom of religion.
• Denmark is a leader within Europe when it comes to standing up for our shared values. We are working together to address common challenges including stopping the spread of disinformation and ensuring that investment flows do not raise national security risks.
• The United States greatly values Denmark as a NATO Ally and a leader in promoting peace throughout the world, including in the Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the NATO Mission in Iraq, and the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, as well as additional military operations from the Arabian Gulf to the Sahel.

THE U.S. PARTNERSHIP WITH DENMARK, GREENLAND, AND THE FAROE ISLANDS IS CRITICAL TO PROTECTING THE ARCTIC

• The Kingdom of Denmark, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, is an important partner in shared efforts toward a secure, stable, and prosperous Arctic free from conflict, particularly as we see increased activity in the region from Russia and the People's Republic of China. We appreciate our close cooperation in the Arctic Council on shared issues such as energy, health, and working together with Indigenous communities.
• The re-opening of the U.S. Consulate in Nuuk is a testament to this partnership. We look forward to expanding our bonds with Greenland and the entire Kingdom of Denmark.
• We are proud to continue our close cooperation on professional, educational, and cultural exchanges. Programs such as Fulbright help improve English-language skills, and support Greenlandic efforts to increase tourism and international entrepreneurship.
• The U.S. Air Force presence at Thule Air Base in northwest Greenland provides significant strategic value for the U.S. and NATO allies and plays a critical role in our early warning radar system. Thule is also an important community resource, which hosts the Technical University of Denmark's Thule Research Station, provides a weather alternate airport to Air Greenland civilian flights, and delivers urgent medical care to remote communities.
• The U.S. National Science Foundation invests approximately $10-15 million annually in Greenland-based research and supports more than 50 U.S.-led projects, resulting in deeper understanding of polar systems and a network of academic exchanges that strengthens research and education in Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.
• The U.S. Department of Energy - through an ARPA-E grant - is funding an innovative Faroese company, Ocean Rainforest, to test a state-of-the-art marine biomass cultivation structure in California. The goal is to develop the necessary technology and machinery, and enable future production for high volume applications, including for bioenergy.

OUR BILATERAL ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP IS GROWING

• The United States and Denmark enjoy a robust bilateral economic relationship, driven by the innovation of Danish and American private sectors. The United States is Denmark's largest non-European trading partner.
• Two-way trade in goods between the United States and Denmark totaled $14.2 billion in 2019, while bilateral services trade totaled $8.6 billion in 2017. Fuel, machinery, and pharmaceuticals are among the major U.S. exports to Denmark, while Denmark exports industrial machinery, chemical products, furniture, pharmaceuticals, canned ham and pork, windmills, and toys to the United States.
• Danish companies brought $19.6 billion in foreign direct investment to the United States in 2018, supporting 40,000 American jobs. Danish investment in the United States is growing, exemplified by Novo Nordisk's $1.85 billion investment in a North Carolina pharmaceutical facility; and Vestas, which just received a 336 MW order for the Escalade wind project in Texas and whose 6,000 U.S. employees outnumber those in Denmark.
• Denmark and the United States actively collaborate across the full spectrum of science fields, including 235 research grants funded and supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. In addition, the two countries highlight the best of innovation through collaborations such as the joint University of Copenhagen-Microsoft quantum materials laboratory, Danish Innovation Centers in Boston and Silicon Valley, and a program between the Confederation of Danish Industry and MIT.