The fight for Greenland is in full swing. The U.S. Vice President comes out hard against Denmark – which responds to the criticism.
U.S. Vice President Vance criticizes Denmark's handling of Greenland's security during a day-long visit.
Denmark defends itself, calling the criticism unfair and emphasizing cooperation in NATO.
Experts see the statements as unfriendly and a possible threat to NATO relations.
Just after 5:00 p.m., Vance landed in Greenland.
What was supposed to be a three-day cultural visit to Greenland has now been reduced to a day trip.
Shortly after 7:00 p.m., Vance gave a speech.
We know that Greenland is less safe now than it was 30-40 years ago, Vance said from the podium.
Vance also said that Denmark has failed to keep Greenland safe. He confirms that the United States is planning an increased military presence.
They have not kept up. Denmark has not done a good job of keeping Greenland safe.
He then sent a direct message to Denmark.
You have done a bad job for the people of Greenland. That has to change. We believe that Greenlanders will choose to be independent from Denmark. Then we will have talks.
A few hours later he writes on X that he is looking forward to the next Greenland visit.
Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide says Norway gives its full support to the Kingdom of Denmark.
I perceive Vice President Vance's speech at the American base in Greenland as both disturbing and unreasonable towards Denmark, says Eide in a statement to NTB.
Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, says the following about Vance's speech:
For many years, we have stood side by side with the Americans in very difficult situations. Therefore, it is an unfair way for the Vice President to refer to Denmark. Denmark is a good and strong ally for everyone in NATO.
She continues:
The U.S. Vice President has made it clear that the U.S. respects Greenland's sovereignty and the Greenlanders' right to self-determination. It was important that it was established, it says in a written comment.
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen reacts to the speech.
These are very harsh words, and I am a little offended when you think that Denmark has always been there for the United States, he tells Danish TV 2.
Denmark's ambassador to the United States, Jesper Møller Sørensen, however, thanks the vice president:
Thank you, vice president, for taking a closer look at Arctic security. We agree that we could have done more, which is why Denmark is acting. Another $2 billion was invested in January – more is coming soon.
U.S. expert Eirik Løkke followed the speech. He calls it unfriendly.
The criticism of Denmark is unreasonable, at least as Vance formulates it.
Løkke says that Vance may have a point that Denmark has not invested enough in Greenland.
In isolation, it may be a point. However, the context for the criticism is unfriendly. If the U.S. believes that more should have been invested in the defense of Greenland, they could have said so. The backdrop, however, is that Trump has said that they want Greenland.
Løkke continues:
This can easily be interpreted as legitimizing that Denmark has not done a good enough job, and thus Trump should have Greenland. It is a scandalous approach. I suspect Denmark will react sharply to this. At the same time, they must be careful.
The head of the Storting's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Ine Eriksen Søreide, says that what the U.S. is doing is very disturbing.
The statement by Vice President Vance, in which he criticizes Denmark's efforts for the Greenlandic people, is an untimely interference in the internal affairs of another country. The future of Greenland must be decided by the Greenlanders themselves, in dialogue with the Danish Commonwealth.
First visit
This is the first time Vance has been to Greenland. Shortly after his arrival, he visited the American military space base Pituffik Space Base.
We look forward to hanging out with you. We have an interest in Greenland, Vance tells the military personnel at the base.
Vance's wife, Usha Vance, is also in Greenland.
Trump also issued a statement about Greenland on Friday afternoon.
There he says that the U.S. and Greenland get along well, and that the U.S. interest in Greenland is about world peace. Furthermore, the president says that the U.S. is completely dependent on the island:
We must have Greenland,
said the president.
Vance's visit to Greenland has not been well received by the island's inhabitants. A recent survey showed that the vast majority of people in Greenland do not want to become part of the U.S..
The then Prime Minister Múte B. Egede, said in a statement that there would be no meetings between the U.S. and the Greenlandic government during the visit.
A travel company in Greenland said that they would decline any visits from Vance's wife. Originally, she wanted to watch a dog sledding competition, but the organizer has made it clear that she has not been invited.
Source: VG.no (in Norwegian)
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