J.D. Vance slams Denmark for not keeping Greenland safe from China and Russia
As his vice-president visited a base in the territory, Trump told reporters the US needed Greenland to ensure ‘peace of the entire world’
US Vice-President J.D. Vance slammed Denmark during a visit to Greenland on Friday, saying it has not done a good job in keeping the semi-autonomous Danish territory and its people safe from incursions by China and Russia, while pledging respect for Greenland’s sovereignty and asking its people to partner with the United States.
Vance said the United States does not have immediate plans to expand US military presence on the ground in Greenland but will invest in resources including additional naval ships.
“Denmark has not kept pace and devoted 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, from China and other nations,” Vance said. He gave no details of the alleged incursions.
The US vice-president said Russia, China and other nations are taking an “extraordinary interest” in Arctic passageways, naval routes and minerals in the region and the US will invest more resources, including naval ships and military icebreakers that will have a greater presence in the country.
Greenland’s new prime minister said the US visit signalled a “lack of respect” and called for unity in the face of “pressure from outside”.
Denmark’s king issued a statement of support on social media. “We live in an altered reality. There should be no doubt that my love for Greenland and my connectedness to the people of Greenland are intact,” King Frederik said.