During his visit to Greenland on Friday, Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Denmark and other European allies, doubling down on the Trump administration’s push for U.S. ownership of the semi-autonomous territory. Vance’s comments, made while addressing servicemembers at the Pituffik Space Base, emphasized the belief that Greenland would be better off under U.S. protection rather than Danish control.
Speaking to the personnel at the U.S. Space Force base on the northwestern coast of Greenland, Vance took aim at Denmark’s handling of Greenland, arguing that the country had failed to properly invest in the island’s people and security infrastructure. “Our message to Denmark is very simple — you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said. “You have under-invested in the people of Greenland and you have under-invested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass.”
Vance’s remarks came just days after President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. would do whatever it takes to gain control of Greenland, an issue that has been a long-standing point of contention. “I think that you’d be a lot better coming under the United States security umbrella than you have been under Denmark’s security umbrella,” Vance told the people of Greenland.
While answering questions from the press, Vance stated that the Trump administration does not currently plan to expand the U.S. military presence in Greenland, but it does intend to increase investments in icebreakers and additional naval ships in the region. This, according to Vance, is part of a broader effort to combat encroachment from foreign powers, particularly China, which has shown interest in the strategically significant territory. “We can’t just bury our head in the sand — or in Greenland, bury our head in the snow — and pretend that the Chinese are not interested in this very large land mass,” he added.
When pressed about whether the U.S. would ever resort to military force to acquire Greenland, Vance firmly stated that he didn’t believe that would be necessary. He expressed his belief that Greenland would eventually gain independence from Denmark, after which the U.S. would discuss its future with the people of Greenland.
Vance’s visit to Greenland also marked a historic occasion as he became the first sitting U.S. vice president to travel to the island. Upon landing, he and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, were greeted by personnel at the Space Force base. Vance humorously noted the cold weather, saying, “It’s cold as s— here! Nobody told me!” Temperatures at the time were reported to be in the single-digit subzero range.
Vance’s trip was part of a broader effort to understand how U.S. personnel stationed in Greenland contribute to national security, an issue that has been a focal point of the Trump administration’s interest in the island. “We’re gonna get a briefing, of course, about what you guys do every day, and then we’re gonna talk just about, as you’ve heard, we have some interest in Greenland from the Trump administration,” Vance explained. He highlighted the administration’s concern with Arctic security, which has become increasingly important as the region’s geopolitical significance grows.
Meanwhile, Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland during a meeting with reporters in the Oval Office. “We need Greenland, very importantly, for international security. We have to have Greenland. It’s not a question of, ‘Do you think we can do without it?’ We can’t,” Trump said.
While Vance and his delegation visited Greenland, Russian President Vladimir Putin weighed in on the U.S.’s historical interest in acquiring the territory. Speaking at Russia’s Arctic Forum, Putin suggested that the U.S. had long sought control over Greenland, dating back to the 1860s. “This is an issue that concerns two specific nations and has nothing to do with us,” he added.
Locals in Greenland have expressed mixed feelings about the U.S.’s recent actions and its desire to take control of the island. Patrick Abrahamsen, a search-and-rescue operator, mentioned how the tone of the U.S.-Greenland relationship has shifted since Trump’s presidency, saying, “Now, it’s a different story.” Many Greenlanders, including Anders Laursen, owner of a local water taxi company, feel that the U.S. has shifted from being a “nice big brother” to a “bullying” presence.
In response to this growing discontent, the U.S. delegation’s visit was scaled back. Initially, the visit was intended to include stops in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, and cultural events like a dog-sled race. However, the visit was limited to one day, and Vance and his team spent their time at the Pituffik Space Base, far from the capital and local protestors.
Greenland’s political landscape also saw movement ahead of Vance’s arrival, as political parties in Greenland formed a coalition government to resist the potential for a U.S. takeover. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Demokraatit party, emphasized that Greenlanders do not wish to become part of the U.S. or remain under Danish rule, stating, “We don’t want to be Americans. No, we don’t want to be Danes. We want to be Greenlanders.”
As the U.S. continues to push its interests in Greenland, tensions between the island’s political aspirations and outside powers, including the U.S. and Russia, are likely to intensify. The future of Greenland remains uncertain, but its strategic importance continues to make it a subject of intense geopolitical debate.
