Geenland has not done enough to secure the Arctic island , says US Vice President JD Vance - America has not done enough for Greenland , says ex-Danish PM Lars Lokke Rasmussen - Only 200 soldiers on its base -
Denmark 'has failed' at keeping Greenland safe, US Vice President JD Vance
By Ash Neel. New York, March 29, 2025
Vice President J.D. Vance pitch ed strongly Friday for Greenland to consider U.S. leadership, saying Denmark is "failing" at securing the Arctic Island.
Vice President J.D. Vance made a pitch Friday for Greenland to consider U.S. leadership, saying Denmark is "failing" at securing the Arctic Island.
At Dissing Denmark, Vance attempted to turn President Donald Trump's threat of a hostile takeover into an overture: "Denmark hasn't done a good job of keeping Greenland safe," he said in remarks.
Vance spoke at a U.S. military installation on the semi-autonomous island, far from any major civilian population. His visit was scaled-back after residents and officials vowed to protest.
"Our message to Denmark is very simple," Vance said. "You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass filled with incredible people. That has to change."
Vance's sharp attacks against Denmark - a longtime U.S. ally and NATO member - offered another example of the little regard the Trump administration holds for traditional U.S. alliances, a report in USA Today said.
In Greenland on Friday, Vance said Russia, China and other nations are taking an "extraordinary interest" in Arctic passageways, naval routes and minerals in the region. He said the U.S. will invest more resources, including naval ships and military icebreakers that will have a greater presence in the country.
President Donald Trump has been gunning for Greenland, whose abundant natural resources represent potential riches for the nation that controls them. Greenland has belonged to Denmark since the early 18th century.
Greenland prime minister tells US shows 'lack of respect'
Climate change could open up access to resources in the frigid, ice-covered land mass. Trump's threats – initially seen by Denmark as political posturing – are increasingly being viewed as serious.
"We need Greenland, very importantly for international security," Trump said in the Oval Office Friday during Vance's visit. "We have to have Greenland." Greenland's new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said the U.S. visit signaled a "lack of respect," while Danish leaders expressed their commitment to Greenland.
"For many years we have stood side by side with the Americans under very difficult circumstances. Therefore, the vice president's description of Denmark is not a fair one," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement to Danish news agency Ritzau.
Danish PM accuses US of ‘unacceptable pressure’ as JD Vance says he will join Greenland visit
US vice-president says he will join unsolicited visit to Arctic island, which Mette Frederiksen says is ‘not what Greenland needs or wants’
Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, has accused the US of putting “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland – which she has vowed to resist – before an unsolicited visit to the Arctic island by members of the Trump administration.
Danish PM Mette Frederiksen
Later, just hours after her comments, the White House sprang a fresh surprise, as the US vice-president, JD Vance, announced he would join his wife on a trip to the territory this week.
“There was so much excitement around Usha’s visit to Greenland this Friday that I decided that I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself, and so I’m going to join her,” Vance said in a video on X.
Greenland PM Nielsen
“Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think it’s important to protecting the security of the entire world.”
The Danish leader also dismissed the idea of the trip being a private visit, saying: “You cannot make a private visit with official representatives from another country.”
Trump’s threats to acquire Greenland, she said, should be taken seriously. “President Trump is serious … He wants Greenland. Therefore, it cannot be seen independently of anything else,” she told Danmarks Radio (DR).
She said: “It is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or what Greenland wants from a visit. Therefore, no matter how we twist it, it is a completely unacceptable pressure on Greenland, the Greenlandic politicians and the Greenlandic population, but it is also on Denmark and thus the kingdom.”
Copenhagen, Greenland’s former colonial ruler, retains control of security and foreign policy in the autonomous territory, which is still part of the kingdom of Denmark. Trump has repeatedly stated his desire for the US to gain control over the island, which he has said is crucial for American security.
Greenland’s prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, has accused Washington of “foreign interference” in relation to the planned visit, amid political uncertainty in the territory as coalition talks continue less than a fortnight after a general election.
The US president responded by saying the delegation had been invited by “officials” on the Greenlandic side. “People from Greenland are asking us to go there,” he told reporters on Monday.
The Nuuk government, however, disputed that. “For the record, the Greenlandic government has not issued any invitations for visits, either official or private,” it said in a statement. “The current government is acting as an interim government pending the formation of a new coalition, and we have kindly requested all countries to respect this process.”
Also due to participate in the visit from Thursday to Saturday are the White House national security adviser, Mike Waltz, now embroiled in an embarrassing security leak, and the energy secretary, Chris Wright.
Kuno Fencker, a member of parliament for Naleraq, which came second to the Democrats in the election, said the party had been “thrown out” of coalition talks, in part because of the upcoming US visit.
“It has an effect because many of the members think that we, especially me, are selling the country to the US,” he said, adding that it was not in his authority to do so.
Accusing the Danish media of “fear-mongering” over the US and Trump, he said: “Divide and rule is being used extremely towards Greenland and fear-mongering about the United States. And especially Donald Trump is framed as the big villain, big bad wolf, here.”
The White House has said Waltz and Wright will visit the US space force base in Pituffik, in the north of Greenland, for briefings from US personnel, and they are expected to join Vance to visit historical sites and attend a dog-sled race.
The White House National Security Council has said the delegation aimed to “learn about Greenland, its culture, history and people”.
Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Vance "has a point that we haven't done enough, but I'm a little provoked because it's also the Americans who haven't done enough."
Rasmussen said that the U.S. today has a base with 200 soldiers, while during the Cold War the Americans had 17 military installations in Greenland with 10,000 soldiers. Speaking to service men and women during a news conference, Vance raised the spectre of Russian or Chinese control of Greenland, then criticized Denmark for not doing enough to keep Greenland residents safe.
"We believe in the self-determination of the people of Greenland," Vance said. "Our argument is with the leaders of Denmark.
Source : USA Today , Reuters and The Guardian.
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