Vance accused Denmark of neglecting Greenland's security for decades. Vance said the United States offers better security to Greenland than Denmark.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized Denmark for neglecting Greenland's security during his visit to Greenland.
At a press conference Friday night, U.S. Vice President JD Vance bluntly criticized Denmark for failing to keep Greenland safe.
Denmark, you have not invested enough in the security architecture of Greenland. You have failed. That has to change, Vance said.
At the event, a reporter asked if the United States was prepared to use military force to take over Greenland.
According to Vance, the use of force to gain Greenland for the United States is not necessary: We believe that the Greenlanders will gain independence from Denmark and then we can talk.
Under our security umbrella, you are much safer than under the Danish security umbrella.
According to the vice president, both China and Russia are understandably very interested in Greenland because of its location.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called Vance’s way of talking about Denmark unfair, according to Jyllands-Posten.
We have stood by the Americans for many years in very difficult situations. That is why the vice president’s way of referring to Denmark is not fair, she said, according to the newspaper.
The group, which also includes Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, visited the U.S. military base in Pituffik in Greenland, where Americans are allowed to travel under a NATO agreement with Denmark.
The Vances arrived at the base for a quick visit on Friday. They went straight off the plane to have lunch with the base’s soldiers, as seen live on Danish TV2.
President [Donald] Trump considers the security of the Arctic region to be very important, Vance said as he arrived to meet the U.S. soldiers.
The couple then sat down to eat with the soldiers.
Vance's visit has been rescheduled from the original schedule because of strong opposition in Greenland to the vice president's trip. Greenlanders have been reluctant to welcome the guests in a situation where the trip seemed to them to be entangled in Greenland's domestic politics.
Greenland's new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who was appointed on Friday, was skeptical of Vance's visit.
A situation where a visit is organized when (Greenland) does not have a sitting government is not a tribute to an ally, Nielsen said.
The group was originally scheduled to also visit the Greenlandic capital Nuuk and Sisimiut. However, these visits were canceled.
Vance's group includes, among others, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and his wife Julia Nesheiwat. In addition, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Senator Mike Lee are also present.
US President Trump has said several times that the United States will take over Greenland one way or another.
We have to get it, Trump said last Wednesday.
According to polls, a majority of Greenlanders support the island’s independence from Denmark, but oppose its annexation by the United States.
Greenland is home to 57,000 people. It is estimated to have vast untapped mineral and oil reserves. Greenland is autonomous but under Danish rule.
Source: Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish)
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