Vice President JD Vance ripped Denmark during his visit to Greenland on Friday, saying the European country has “not done a good job” of protecting and investing in the arctic territory.
During remarks to U.S. troops at Pituffik Space Base, Vance said that the United States would take better care of Greenland than Denmark has. While Greenland has been mostly an autonomous territory since 1979, Denmark maintains its security and defense. The Trump administration, however, has pushed for taking control of Greenland, arguing that both Greenland and the United States would benefit from American control of the territory.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple — you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass.”
“What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose through self-determination to become independent of Denmark, and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there,” Vance added.
During his speech at the military base, Vance argued that Greenland is in a vulnerable position as world powers such as Russia and China make aggressive moves around the globe.
“We know that Russia and China and other nations are taking an extraordinary interest in Arctic passageways, Arctic naval routes, and, indeed, in the minerals of the Arctic territories,” he added. “We need to ensure America is leading in the Arctic.”
As Vance was addressing American troops in Greenland, President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the United States needs Greenland for “international security.”
“We have to have Greenland. It’s not a question of, ‘Do you think we can do without it?’ We can’t,” Trump said.
The Trump administration also has its sights set on Greenland’s natural resources as the territory is potentially rich in minerals and oil. Earlier this week, the Trump administration slammed Danish leaders and previous United States administrations for “neglect and inaction” on Greenland.
“In the decades since, neglect and inaction from Danish leaders and past U.S. administrations have presented our adversaries with the opportunity to advance their own priorities in Greenland and the Arctic,” a statement from the Office of the Vice President stated. “President Trump is rightly changing course.”
