Greenland-Denmark Criticize Vance Following Controversial Visit
Tensions rise between Denmark and the United States following continued pressure by Trump to annex Greenland (Picryl).
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen criticized Vice President J.D. Vance following Vance’s contemptuous visit to Greenland on Friday, March 28.
After Vance’s comment that the Danish government is underinvesting in the security of Greenland and Vance’s insistence that the security situation of Greenland must change, AP reported that Rasmussen said, “Many accusations and many allegations have been made… we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered. This is not how you speak to your close allies. And I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.”
Vance’s comments come after his visit to the U.S. troops stationed at Pituffik military space base in northeast Greenland. As reported by NPR, Vance made comments regarding his support for Greenlanders' right to self-determination, insinuating that he supported the independence of Greenland from Denmark and further alignment with the United States. Vance’s stance further aligns with President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States should take control of Greenland. However, polls show that most Greenlanders oppose joining the United States, with protesters outside the U.S. embassy in Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, holding signs saying “Yankees, Go Home" and "Make America Go Away.”
According to AP, Greenlanders and Danes showed outrage following Vance, the Second Lady, and other high-ranking U.S. officials’ visit, who had not notified the Danish government about the itinerary change, with the original plan only to have Usha Vance visit Greenland’s capital city, Nuuk. Due to Greenlanders’ outrage over Vance’s visit, the trip was cut short and changed to minimize contact with angry islanders. Vance emphasized that the stance to dramatically increase the United States’ presence in Greenland would not require the use of military force, even after earlier comments reported by AP of Trump saying he would not rule out military force to seize Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Trump has repeatedly shown interest in annexing Greenland from U.S. NATO ally Denmark, a militarily strategic Arctic island with valuable natural resources. The question of the strategic importance of Greenland is at the forefront of the Trump administration’s claims. According to Al Jazeera, Trump claimed that Russian and Chinese warships use the waters surrounding Greenland, and emphasized that “We are not talking about peace for the United States. We are talking about world peace. We are talking about international security.” Additionally, Trump released a video on his X account conveying the historical bond between Greenland and the United States in fighting Nazi Germany during the Second World War, further highlighting the need for the United States and Greenland to work together against Russia.
With the United States continuing to pressure Greenland and Denmark to concede to American annexation, European allies worry about the future of their security and their relationship with the United States. The Trump Administration has continued to disrupt American alliances, now threatening NATO and continuing a trade war with military and economic allies, including Mexico and Canada. European defense, now more than ever, is in question, with both Trump and leaders like Germany’s Friedrich Merz calling for Europeans to step up defense without the aid of the United States. The future of traditional Western alliances is now in question, and Europe does not seem to be stepping down.