Denmark said on Saturday that it did not like the “tone” of US Vice President JD Vance’s comments that Copenhagen hadn’t done enough for Greenland during its visit to Danish territory, which is coveted by US President Donald Trump.
“We accept the criticism, but to be completely honest, we don’t appreciate the tone it’s being delivered,” Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in X.
“This is not a way you talk to your close allies, and I still think Denmark and the United States are close ally,” he said.
Vance made a comment during a trip to Pitafik Space Station in northwestern Greenland. Both Copenhagen and Nuke considered it a provocation.
“The message to Denmark is very simple. We’re not doing a good job from the people of Greenland,” Vance told the news conference.
“You’re not invested in the people of Greenland, and you’re not invested in this incredibly beautiful land security architecture,” he added.
Trump claims that the US needs a vast Arctic Island for domestic and international security and refuses to exclude the use of force to ensure it.
“We’re not talking about US peace. We’re talking about world peace. We’re talking about international security,” Trump insisted on Friday to a White House reporter.
When asked about the potential use of force, Vance emphasized that the US administration did not believe it would “be necessary.”
“I think this makes sense. I think the people in Greenland are reasonable and good, so I think we can cut down on Donald Trump-style deals to ensure the security of not only this territory but the United States of America,” Vance said.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen also returned to Vance in a statement.
“For many years, we were standing by the Americans in extremely difficult circumstances,” she said, referring to the Danish battle developments along with the American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The Vice President’s mention of Denmark is not accurate,” she said.
Vance has his wife Usha, national security adviser Mike Waltz, energy secretary Chris Wright, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, and former homeland security adviser Julia Neschwatt, Waltz’s wife.
“Unacceptable pressure”
European Union-backed Danish and Greenland officials have argued that the US will not acquire Greenland.
Fredericksen has condemned the US decision to visit the Arctic Island as “unacceptable pressure” in Greenland and Denmark.
A majority of Greenlanders are opposed to annexation of the US, according to a January poll.
Pituffik base is an important part of Washington’s missile defense infrastructure, with its Arctic location on the shortest route for missiles launched from Russia in the United States.
Known until 2023 as the Thule Air Base, it served as a warning post against possible attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
It is also a strategic location for air and submarine monitoring.
In January, Copenhagen acquired specialized ships and surveillance equipment, saying it would allocate nearly $2 billion to enhance its presence in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
Greenland has 57,000 people, most of which are inettes.
Oil and uranium exploration is prohibited, but is believed to retain large undeveloped minerals and oil reserves.
Trump’s desire to take over territory was defied defied by the Greenlanders, their politicians and Danish officials.
Unity Call
All Greenland parties are in favour of independence, but none of them support the idea that they will become part of the United States.
Following the election earlier this month, a new broad four-person coalition government was announced in Greenland just hours before the arrival of the US delegation.
Prime Minister Jens Frederick Nielsen said the territory needed unity at this point.
“It’s very important that we put our differences and differences aside… because only this way can we deal with the heavy pressures that we are exposed to from outside,” he said.
(France 24 with AFP)