Danish FM criticizes ‘tone’ of US Vice President’s comments on Greenland
Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, on Saturday criticised the “tone” of US Vice President JD Vance’s comments that Copenhagen had not done enough for Greenland, during his visit to the strategically placed, resource-rich Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump.
“We are open to criticisms, but let me be completely honest, we do not appreciate the tone in which it’s being delivered,” Rasmussen said on X, adding, “this is not how you speak to your close allies, and I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.”
Lokke Rasmussen added that Denmark has increased its own investment into Arctic defense. In January, Denmark announced 14.6 billion Danish kroner (US$2.1 billion) in financial commitments for Arctic security covering three new naval vessels, long-range drones and satellites.
Vance visited U.S. troops on Pituffik Space Base alongside his wife and other senior U.S. officials for a trip that was ultimately scaled back after an uproar among Greenlanders and Danes who were not consulted about the original itinerary.
On Friday, Vance said Denmark has “underinvested” in Greenland’s security and demanded that Denmark change its approach as President Donald Trump pushes to take over the Danish territory.
In a video address, the Danish FM reminded viewers of the 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the United States. Since 1945, the American military presence in Greenland has decreased from thousands of soldiers over 17 bases and installations on the island, he said, to the remote Pituffik Space Base in the northwest with some 200 soldiers today.
The 1951 agreement “offers ample opportunity for the United States to have a much stronger military presence in Greenland,” the foreign minister said. “If that is what you wish, then let us discuss it.”
