Denmark criticises ‘tone’ of US Vice-President Vance’s Greenland comments

COPENHAGEN – Denmark on March 29 said it did not like the “tone” of US Vice-President J.D. 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,” Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said in posts on social media.

“This is not how you speak to your close allies, and I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies,” he said.

Mr Vance

made his comments during a trip to the Pituffik Space Base

in north-western Greenland, viewed by both Copenhagen and Nuuk as a provocation.

“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Mr Vance told a press conference.

“You have under-invested in the people of Greenland and you have under-invested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass,” he added.

Mr Trump argues that

the US needs the vast Arctic island

for national and international security and has refused to rule out the use of force to secure it.

“We are not talking about peace for the United States. We are talking about world peace. We are talking about international security,” Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on March 28.

Asked about the potential use of force, Mr Vance stressed the US administration did not think that “is ever going to be necessary”.

“We think this makes sense and because we think the people of Greenland are rational and good, we think we’re going to be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump-style, to ensure the security of this territory but also the United States of America,” Mr Vance said.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also hit back at Mr Vance in a statement.

“For many years, we have stood by the Americans in very difficult situations,” she said, referring to Danish combat deployments alongside American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The Vice-President’s reference to Denmark is not accurate,” she said.

Mr Vance was accompanied by his wife Usha, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Utah Senator Mike Lee and former homeland security adviser Julia Nesheiwat, who is Mr Waltz’s wife.

‘Unacceptable pressure’

Danish and Greenlandic officials, backed by the European Union, have insisted that the US will not obtain Greenland.

Ms Frederiksen has condemned the US decision to visit the Arctic island uninvited as “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland and Denmark. Mr Rasmussen said Denmark had stepped up investment in Arctic security, with Copenhagen announcing in January a US$2 billion (S$2.7 billion) plan to boost its military presence in the region.

A majority of Greenlanders oppose US annexation, according to a January poll.

March 30 saw hundreds of people rally outside the US Embassy in Copenhagen, some waving banners with slogans such as “Trump/Putin stealing countries”, “Yankees go home” and “Make ice cubes not war”.

“It’s very important that we are as numerous as possible today,” said one demonstrator, Ms Kista Lynge Hoegh, a Greenland native.

“We are worried for our families who live in Greenland and we are concerned about what will happen to them if annexation occurs, as Trump has threatened.”

“We want to come together to say the American rhetoric regarding Greenland and Denmark is unacceptable,” said Greenlander Mimik Rosing.

The Pituffik base is an essential part of Washington’s missile defence infrastructure, as it is located in the Arctic on the shortest route for missiles fired from Russia at the US. Known as Thule Air Base until 2023, it served as a warning post for possible attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

It is also a strategic location for air and submarine surveillance.

In January, Copenhagen said it would allocate almost US$2 billion to beef up its presence in the Arctic and North Atlantic, acquiring specialised vessels and surveillance equipment.

Greenland is home to 57,000 people, most of them Inuits.

It is believed to hold massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, although oil and uranium exploration are banned.

Mr Trump’s desire to take over the territory has been categorically rejected by Greenlanders, their politicians and Danish officials.

Unity call

While all of Greenland’s political parties are in favour of independence, none of them support the idea of becoming part of the US.

A new broad four-party coalition government was announced in Greenland just hours before the US delegation’s arrival, following elections earlier in March.

Incoming Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen

said the territory needed unity at this time.

“It is very important that we put aside our disagreements and differences because only in this way will we be able to cope with the heavy pressure we are exposed to from outside,” he said. AFP