Vance says US, not Denmark, can keep Greenland safe from Russia, China

US vice-president J.D. Vance took a diplomatic sledgehammer to Denmark on Friday, accusing it of doing a subpar job protecting Greenland — because, obviously, Washington knows best. He then hinted, ever so subtly, that the United States would do a far better job safeguarding the semi-autonomous Danish territory, which President Donald Trump famously wanted to acquire as if it were prime real estate.

During his visit to the US military base at Pituffik in the Arctic (he was supposed to visit other places too but reportedly had to cut short his trip because Greenland wanted him out), Vance reassured everyone that the US has no immediate plans to expand its military presence on the ground — though it will, of course, generously invest in resources like naval ships. Because nothing says “just visiting” like bringing extra warships.

He pledged to respect Greenland’s sovereignty (wink, wink) but also suggested that, sooner or later, the territory would see the light and recognise that partnering with the US is the way to go. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, apparently unimpressed, called his remarks unfair.

"Denmark has not kept pace and devoted the resources necessary to keep this base, to keep our troops, and in my view, to keep the people of Greenland safe from a lot of very aggressive incursions from Russia, from China, and other nations," Vance claimed. Though when pressed for details on these alleged incursions, he remained charmingly vague.

Trump, never one to let go of a real estate fantasy, has repeatedly argued that the US has a strategic imperative to acquire Greenland. Because if there’s one thing America is known for, it’s a love of strategic takeovers.

Vance’s remarks marked yet another instance of the Trump administration treating long-time allies with all the warmth of an Arctic winter. But this isn’t exactly new for the vice-president — he recently took a European tour to lecture officials on free speech and illegal migration and even scolded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not grovelling enough before Trump during a White House meeting.

While in Greenland, Vance warned that Russia, China, and other nations have taken an "extraordinary interest" in Arctic passageways, naval routes, and minerals. Naturally, the US plans to counteract this interest by, you guessed it, sending more ships and military icebreakers. Greenlanders, for some strange reason, didn’t seem thrilled by his visit.

In an apparent attempt to ease concerns, Vance promised that Greenlanders would have "self-determination" and that the US would, pinky swear, respect their sovereignty.

"I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States," he confidently predicted. "We can make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well." How generous.

His remarks came just as a new broad government coalition in Greenland reaffirmed its commitment to keeping ties with Denmark — for now. Greenland’s newly minted Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen was unimpressed, calling the US visit a "lack of respect."

Danish leaders quickly circled the wagons. "For many years we have stood side by side with the Americans under very difficult circumstances. Therefore, the vice-president's description of Denmark is not a fair one," Frederiksen said.

Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen admitted that maybe, just maybe, Denmark could have done more. But he wasn’t about to let the US off the hook either.

"He has a point that we haven't done enough, but I'm a little provoked because it's also the Americans who haven't done enough," Rasmussen noted. A fair jab, considering the US currently maintains just one base with 200 soldiers in Greenland, a far cry from the 10,000 troops it had scattered across 17 military installations during the Cold War.

As Vance was busy making waves in the Arctic, Trump chimed in from Washington, declaring that the US simply must have Greenland for the sake of world peace.

"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 asserted, as if discussing a necessary household appliance rather than a sovereign territory.

Trump also claimed that Greenland’s waters are practically infested with Chinese and Russian ships and made it clear that the US won’t be relying on Denmark — or anyone else — to handle the situation. Because if there’s one thing Trump doesn’t trust, it’s allies.

Vance, braving the -19°C (-3°F) temperatures at Pituffik, made sure to thank US service members for their dedication to freezing in the name of security. He was joined by his wife Usha, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and energy secretary Chris Wright, because nothing screams "strategic visit" like bringing along the spouse.

Under a 1951 agreement, the US can access its base in Greenland whenever it pleases, as long as it gives Greenland and Copenhagen a heads-up. Pituffik, conveniently located along the shortest route from Europe to North America, is a key part of America’s ballistic missile warning system.

Despite its strategic importance, Greenland’s vast mineral, oil, and natural gas resources remain largely untapped, at least by US investors. Most mining companies there hail from Australia, Canada, or the UK. But Washington, ever the opportunist, has taken notice — one White House official gushed about Greenland’s supply of rare earth minerals, which could be vital for the next phase of the US economy.

The real question is how far Trump is willing to push this Greenland fantasy. As per a Reuters report, Andreas Oesthagen, a senior researcher on Arctic politics and security, doubts the US will resort to outright military action (small mercies), but he warns that Trump and Vance will likely continue their usual tactics: vague statements, semi-official visits, and economic pressure.

Not that Greenlanders are buying any of it. Polls suggest that almost none of them want to become part of the US. In fact, anti-American protests have drawn some of the largest crowds Greenland has ever seen. Locals have been sporting 'Make America Go Away' hats and waving 'Yankees Go Home' banners — because subtlety is overrated.

On Thursday, protesters in Nuuk made their stance even clearer, planting Greenlandic flags in the snow alongside a cardboard sign in English that read, 'Our Land. Our Future'.

Nielsen, Greenland’s prime minister, urged unity in the face of the not-so-subtle pressure from Washington. "At a time when we as a people are under pressure, we must stand together," he declared.

Trump, undeterred by facts or popular opinion, doubled down earlier this week, once again stating that he wants to make Greenland part of the US. Because if there’s anything he loves more than a grand real estate deal, it’s one that involves an entire country.

With agency inputs