Greenland tensions ease, but crisis remains

Greenland remains in the international spotlight as diplomatic efforts continue to defuse the crisis sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's push for acquisition of the island.

At a trilateral press conference on Saturday to mark the opening of Canada's first consulate in Nuuk, capital of Greenland, Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said that the situation has improved compared with a month ago, citing the establishment of a diplomatic track and direct dialog with Washington.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen described the situation in similar terms that Denmark is now in a much better position in regards to Trump's intension to take over Greenland, but stressed the crisis is not yet resolved.

Seeking closer engagement with Greenlanders and a stronger presence in the Arctic, France and Canada each inaugurated a consulate in Nuuk on Friday, moves widely interpreted as concrete support for Denmark and Greenland amid the uncertainty.

Although Trump had withdrawn his previously announced threats of high tariffs on eight European countries unless Denmark agrees to his Greenland deal, officials in Denmark and Greenland emphasized that the underlying issue has not been resolved.

The Danish side stressed that any solution must respect the territorial integrity of Denmark.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said earlier that sovereignty remains a non-negotiable red line, adding that Greenland is open to cooperation on security and defense with all countries honoring international law.

European countries have repeatedly called for solutions that strictly adhere to international law.

In the quiet capital of Nuuk, home to about 20,000 people, local residents said despite the improved situation, many still felt uneasy.

"For the last month, we have been very worried here, we have felt a lot of pressure. Many people have felt it's hard to sleep at night. Whenever we hear airplane, we were thinking, 'is this the U.S. Army coming?' Now it's a little less tense, but still I think people are a bit worried," said a local resident.

Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland, a move that has sparked backlash across Europe.

Greenland tensions ease, but crisis remains

Greenland tensions ease, but crisis remains

Global food commodity prices climbed for a second consecutive month in March, driven mainly by higher energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in report released on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 percent from February and 1.0 percent above its level a year ago.

According to the report, the FAO Vegetable Oil Index and Sugar Price Index showed the largest increases, up 5.1 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices, which rose 4.3 percent.

The FAO Meat Price Index rose by 1.0 percent from the previous month, and the FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 3.0 percent in March, according to the report.

FAO stated that rising energy and fertilizer prices have been driving up agricultural input costs.

If the conflict stretches beyond 40 days, farmers will have to choose to farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops, according to FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero.

These choices will hit future yields and shape food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and beyond, Torero said.

Global food prices rise for 2nd consecutive month in March amid Middle East conflict: FAO