PITUFFIK, GREENLAND – MARCH 28: United States Vice President JD Vance talks at the United States armed force’s Pituffik Space Base on March 28, 2025 in Pituffik,Greenland The plan for the see was downsized after a prepare for an extra comprehensive journey attracted objection from authorities in Greenland and Denmark, which manages international and protection plan of the semiautonomous area. (Photo by Jim Watson – Pool/ Getty Images)
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Vice President JD Vance on Friday charged Denmark of underinvesting in the protection style of Greenland as he asserted various other European allies had actually fallen short to maintain speed with protection costs.
Trump has actually consistently revealed his wish to get control of the self-governing Danish area, explaining the possibility as an “absolute necessity” for functions connected to nationwide protection.
“Denmark hasn’t done a good job at keeping Greenland safe,” Vance informed servicemembers at the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Friday.
“We know that too often our allies in Europe have not kept pace, they haven’t kept pace with military spending and Denmark has not kept pace in devoting the resources necessary to keep this base, to keep our troops, and in my view, to keep the people of Greenland safe from a lot of very aggressive incursions from Russia, China and other nations with interest in this area,” Vance informed press reporters.
The vice head of state stated the mineral-rich island was very important since if a projectile was discharged from an adversary nation or an adversary submarine right into the United States, it would certainly be individuals at the base that would certainly inform the united state
United States Vice President JD Vance (C) presents with Second Lady Usha Vance (second L), National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (third L), his spouse, previous homeland protection consultant, Julia Nesheiwat (L) and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright (R) as they explore the United States armed force’s Pituffik Space Base on March 28, 2025 in Pituffik,Greenland
Jim Watson|Getty Images
“We know that Russia and China and other nations are taking an extraordinary interest in Arctic passageways and Arctic naval routes and indeed in the minerals of the Arctic territories. We need to ensure that America is leading in the Arctic because we know that if America doesn’t, other nations will fill the gap,” he stated.
Following Vance’s see, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen stated his nation was “open to criticism” yet that they did not “appreciate the tone in which it’s being delivered.”
“This is not how you speak to your close allies,” he stated in a video message shared on the social networks system X.
“We respect that the United States needs a greater military presence in Greenland, as Vice President Vance mentioned this evening. We, Denmark and Greenland, are very much open to discussing this with you,” Rasmussen stated.
‘Far brought’ unsupported claims
Vance’s see comes as previously today Trump reiterated his wish to take control of Greenland for nationwide and worldwide protection functions, claiming the united state would certainly “go as far as we have to go.”
“We need Greenland and the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark,” he stated, describing the island which is a semi-autonomous area of Denmark.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen condemned the remarks from Trump, claiming the “far-fetched” unsupported claims was a more rise from the united state
Both the federal governments of Greenland and Denmark have actually consistently articulated resistance to Trump’s strategies, with Mute Egede, the outbound head of state of Greenland, previously this month claiming: “Don’t keep treating us with disrespect. Enough is enough.”
Elsewhere, Russian President Vladimir Putin today likewise advised that it would certainly be a “profound mistake” to reject Trump’s initiative “as some preposterous talk by the new U.S. administration.”
Putin flagged that the united state had actually formerly supplied to purchase Greenland and had strategies to manage the area “as far back as the 1860s.”
“In short, the United States has serious plans regarding Greenland. These plans have long historical roots, as I have just mentioned, and it is obvious that the United States will continue to consistently advance its geo-strategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic,” Putin stated.
The UNITED STATE’ first prepare for a delegation of authorities to see the island was met raw criticism from leaders in Denmark and Greenland as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen asserted the strategies were producing “unacceptable pressure.”
The journey has actually considering that been reduced to a one-day occasion and has actually been limited to a browse through of the united state Pituffik Space Base on the island, which lies far from the area’s cities.
Denmark showed up to welcome the modifications, with the nation’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen recommending they signified a de-escalation.
–‘s Sam Meredith added to this record.
