US Vice President JD Vance accused Denmark of urging its people to “partners” with the United States to expose Greenland to China and Russia.
Vance said during a visit to the Arctic island that he hopes Greenlanders can vote for Denmark’s independence, which he said was insufficient investment in protecting the semi-autonomous field.
Vance claims that its ally Denmark “has not done well in protecting Greenland” after the U.S. repeatedly took over the threats on the island.
one The vast majority Greenland opposed the idea of annexation and a poll was filed in January. Greenland’s Prime Minister said the U.S. visit showed “lack of respect.”
Denmark King Frederik also rejected the U.S. plan.
“We live in a changing reality,” the monarch on social media said Friday.
“No doubt my love for Greenland and my connection with the people of Greenland are complete.”
During a visit to Pituffik space base at the missile defense facility north of the island on Friday, Vance told the press conference that Russia, China and other countries have “extraordinary interest” in routes and minerals in the region.
It is believed that an island with 57,000 people can accommodate large amounts of undeveloped mineral and oil reserves.
The vice president said the United States did not immediately plan to expand its U.S. military presence locally, but instead invested more resources, including naval ships and military icebreakers.
“The information we give Denmark is very simple,” Vance said.
“The people of Greenland are not doing a great job. You have underinvestment in the people of Greenland and underinvestment in this incredibly beautiful land safe building.”
He also said Denmark failed to “remain the Greenland people from many very active invasions from Russia, China and other countries” without providing more details.
The vice president said that the people of Greenland will “determinate” and that the United States will respect its sovereignty.
“We want them to choose to work with the United States because we are the only country on the planet that will respect sovereignty and respect its security because their security is our security,” he said.
Vance joined with his wife, second wife, Usha Vance, U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
The external temperature of Pituffik is -3F (-19 C).
The Second Lady of the United States was originally going to Greenland with her son to attend a dog show in Sisimite Town.
However, after several protests were arranged, the visit to Sisimit was cancelled and replaced by the docking status of the military base.
Back at the White House, President Donald Trump insisted that the United States needs Greenland to ensure “peace all over the world” with “ships spread across China and Russia” on its waterways.
“We need Greenland very importantly for international security,” he said.
“We have to have Greenland. It’s not a question: ‘Do you think we can do it without it?’ We can’t.”
He said Denmark and the EU understood the situation: “If we don’t do this, we will have to explain it to them.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen questioned Vance’s comments in a statement to the BBC.
“For years, we have stood side by side with Americans in very difficult circumstances,” she said. “So, this is not the exact way the vice president can refer to Denmark.”
She said Denmark has greatly increased its defense spending, but will further increase investment through more surveillance, new Arctic ships, long-range drones and satellite capacity.
“We are ready to work with the Americans,” she said. “The cooperation must be based on the necessary international rules in the game.”
Greenland’s new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said before Vance’s visit that it showed a “lack of respect for the people of Greenland”.
In Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, some of the people spoken by the BBC were not won by the US proposal.
At a cultural center in the city, artist Karline Poulsen said: “There are many ways to speak. But I don’t think President Trump is talking about the road.”
A woman who only said in Nina said, “I’m worried (about this visit). It’s weird, I don’t like it.”
Her daughter Anita said the visit caused “a lot of uncertainty and a lot of people were worried”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he believes Trump’s plan for Greenland is “serious”.
He expressed concern that “NATO countries are increasingly designating the far north as a springboard for possible conflict.”
