Vance accuses Denmark of Underinvesting in Greenland as Trump takeover – National

American Vice President JD Vance said on Friday that Denmark has “understood” GreenlandThe security and demanded that Denmark changes his approach if President Donald Trump continues to talk about taking over Danish territory.

The pointed comments came when Vance visited American troops on Pituffik Space Base on the mineral -rich, strategically critical island.

“Our message to Denmark is very simple: you didn’t do it well by the people of Greenland,” said Vance. “You have invested among the population of Greenland and under the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass you have filled with incredible people. That must change.”

Vance said that the US has “not an option”, but to take an important position to guarantee the safety of Greenland, while encouraging a push in Greenland for the independence of Denmark.

“I think they will eventually collaborate with the United States,” said Vance. “We could make them much safer. We could do much more protection. And I think they would do much better.”

Vance was accompanied by his wife and other high American officials for the visit to the American military base in a journey that was scaled back after a commotion among Groenlanders And Danes who were irritated that the original travel schedule was planned without consulting them.

Shortly after arrival, Vance briefly focused on the American troops stationed at the base while he and his wife sat down to have lunch with them, and said that the Republican government of US President Donald Trump is very interested in ‘Arctic Security’. He and his entourage, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, energy secretary Chris Wright and Senator Mike Lee van Utah, then received briefings from military officials.

The revised journey to the semi-autonomous Danish territory comes as the relations between the US and the Nordic country, a traditional member of the US and NATO, are soured. Trump had repeatedly suggested that the United States should be in some form Manage the island.

During his comments at the end of the short visit, Vance underlined that he did not think that military force would ever be needed because he pressed the idea of ​​a dramatically improved American position on the island.

“Because we think that the people of Greenland are rational and good, we think we should close a deal, Donald Trump style, to guarantee the safety of this territory, but also the United States of America,” Vance said.

In Washington, Trump said on Friday that the US needs ‘Greenland for international safety’.

Trump, who spoke with reporters shortly after Vance’s arrival, refers to the emerging Chinese and Russian interest in the North Pole area, where they are open lanes due to climate change.

“Greenland is very important for the peace of the world,” said Trump. “And I think Denmark understands, and I think the European Union understands. And if they don’t, we have to explain to them.”

Vance was not removed from unimportant exchanges with world leaders during the early by Trump of Trump’s second White House, in which the Republican leader has shaken the approach of America on the world theater.

During his first overseas journey last month, VANCE used a visit to an artificial intelligence -top in Paris to give an unmistakable message: the United States has room for you on the Trump train -but it also has no problem to leave you behind.

Days later at Munich’s security conference, VANCE gave European officials on free speech and illegal migration on the continent.

At the end of last month, he went to the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zenskyy because he was insufficiently grateful for her help, since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. That disastrous Oval Office -Meeting Trump briefly led to the military help with Kyiven.

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Friday’s one -day visit to the US Space Force Outpost in Pituffik, on the northwestern coast of Greenland, removed the risk of violating possible diplomatic habit by sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation. It also reduced the chance that Vance and his wife would cross the paths with residents who were angry about Trump’s announcements.

It was min-19 degrees C when the delegation landed to sunny skies on the remote base of 1200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. “It’s cold as s- here. Nobody told me,” said Vance and laughed.

In anticipation of the arrival of Vance, four of the five parties chosen earlier this month in the Parliament of Greenland signed an agreement to form a new, widely based coalition government. The parties were together in the face of Trump’s designs on the territory.

“It is a time when we as a population are under pressure,” said the Premier designs, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, before the agreement was signed for applause and cheers in the capital, Nuuk.

He added that “we have to stay together. Together we are the strongest,” said Greenland broadcaster KNR.

In a position on Instagram, the Danish Prime Minister congratulated Mette Frederiksen Nielsen and his incoming government and said: “I am looking forward to closing cooperation in an unnecessary conflicting time.”

Frederiksen said on Tuesday that the American visit, which was originally set for three days, created ‘unacceptable pressure’. She said that Denmark wants to work with the US on defense and safety, but Greenland is from the Groenlanders.

Initially Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, had announced a solo trip to the Avanata Qimussersu Dogsled Race in Sisimiut. The Vice President then said he would join her During that trip, only to change that travel schedule again after protests from Greenland and Denmark-To a one-day visit to the military post.

Residents of Nuuk, who lies about 1500 kilometers south of Pituffik, expressed concern about the visit of Vance and the American interest in their island.

Cora Høy, 22, said that Vance was “welcome if he wants to see it, but of course Greenland is not for sale.” She added that “it is not normal here” with all the attention that Greenland receives. “I feel that every day is now about (Trump) and I just want to get away with it.”

“It’s all a bit crazy. Of course the population here is shaken a bit,” said the 30-year-old Inuk Kristensen. “My opinion is the same as everyone else: of course you don’t do things in this way. You don’t get here alone and say that you want to buy the place.”

Because the nautical gateway to the North Pole area and North Atlantic approaches of North America, Greenland has a wider strategic value, since both China and Russia are looking for their waterways and natural resources.