Nuuk: American vice president JD Vance has criticized Denmark for not doing enough to protect Greenland and his people from the growing threats raised by Russia and China, while urging the Arctic territory to strengthen ties with the United States.
The United States Vice President JD Vance criticized Denmark during a visit to Greenland on Friday, saying that he has not done a good job to maintain the semi -autonomous Danish territory and its people safe from the incursions of China and Russia. He promised respect for Greenland’s sovereignty while urging his people to partner with the United States.
Vance said that the United States has no immediate plans to expand its military presence in the field in Greenland, but will invest in resources, including additional naval ships.
“Denmark has not kept the pace and has dedicated the necessary resources to maintain this base, to maintain our troops and, in my opinion, to keep the people of Greenland safe from many very aggressive incursions of Russia, from China and other nations,” said Vance. However, he did not provide details of the alleged incursions.
The vice president of the United States declared that Russia, China and other nations are taking an “extraordinary interest” in the steps of the Arctic, naval routes and minerals in the region. The United States will invest more resources, including naval ships and military breakfinds, to establish a stronger presence in the country.
Greenland’s new Prime Minister said the United States visit pointed out “lack of respect” and requested the unit against “exterior pressure.”
The King of Denmark issued a statement of support on social networks. “We live in an altered reality. There should be no doubt that my love for Greenland and my connection with the people of Greenland are intact,” said King Frederik.
Vance delivered his comments during a visit to the US military base in Pituffik in northern Greenland. His visit occurred only a few hours after a new coalition of the broad government was presented in Nuuk, with the aim of maintaining the ties with Denmark for the moment.
Upon arrival, Vance greeted US military personnel at the remote base, thanking them for their service. The outer temperature in Pituffik was less 3 degrees Fahrenheit (-19 ° C).
Vance also promised that the people of Greenland would have “self -determination” and that the United States would respect their sovereignty.
“We hope they choose to associate with the United States, because we are the only nation on Earth that will respect their sovereignty and respect their safety, because their security is our security,” said Vance.
When Vance’s visit was underway, President Donald Trump told White House journalists that the United States needs Greenland to guarantee “peace for everyone.”
“We need Greenland, very important, for international security. We have to have Greenland. It is not a matter of ‘Do you think we can do without it?’ We can’t, “Trump said.
Trump said that the river routes of Greenland had “Chinese and Russian ships throughout the place” and insisted that the United States would not trust Denmark or in any other country to administer the situation.
Denmark and the European Union understand the importance of Greenland for global peace “, and if they do not, we will have to explain them,” Trump added.
The United States delegation included Vance’s wife, Usha, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and energy secretary Chris Wright.
The original plan for the trip included Vance’s wife who attended a dog cane race on the island with Waltz, despite not being officially invited by the Greenland or Danish authorities. However, public protests and the reaction of officials in Greenland and Denmark led the United States delegation to limit their visit to the military base, avoiding public meetings.
According to a 1951 agreement, the United States has the right to visit its base whenever you want, provided it notifies Greenland and Copenhagen. Pituffik is located along the shortest route between Europe and North America and is vital for the US ballistic missile warning system.
Groenland, whose capital is closer to New York than Copenhagen, has significant reserves of minerals, oil and natural gas. However, development has been slow and the mining sector has received little US investment. Most of the mining companies operating in Greenland are Australian, Canadians or British.
A White House official has declared that Greenland has a great offer of rare earth minerals that could feed the next generation of the US economy.
New Government
The new Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen urged the political unit on Friday.
“At a time when we, as a town, we are under pressure, we must be together,” Nielsen told a press conference.
His pro-negocio party, the Democrats, who favors the gradual independence of Denmark, emerged as the biggest match in the March 11 elections.
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, who previously described the initial plans of the US visit. “Unacceptable,” congratulated the new Greenland government in an Instagram publication: “I hope to have close cooperation in an unnecessarily conflict time.”
Andreas Oesthagen, a principal researcher on Arctic policy and security at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, based in Oslo, said the question now is to what extent Trump is willing to push his idea of taking charge of the island.
“It is still unlikely that the United States will use military media,” he told Reuters.
“But unfortunately it is likely that President Trump and Vice President Vance continue to use other means of pressure, such as ambiguous statements, semi -official visits to Greenland and economic instruments,” he added.
‘No for sale’
When reviewing the trip, the Trump Administration is trying to reemain the discussion on key issues: the presence of the United States in Greenland, military capacities and Arctic security, said Catherine Sendak, director of the Transatlantic and Security Defense Program at the European Policy Analysis Center, a group of Washington -based experts.
“A course change was needed,” Sendak told Reuters.
However, some Nuuk residents remain angry with the Trump administration before Vance’s visit.
“I am a human. Humans are not for sale. We are not on sale,” Tungutaq Larsen said, a filmmaker, talking to Reuters.
Surveys show that almost all Greenlands oppose themselves to be part of the United States. Anti -American protesters, some who use the “make the United States” caps and hold “Yankees Go Home” banners, have organized some of the greatest manifestations ever seen in Greenland.
On Thursday, Nuuk residents planted Greenland flags in the snow along with a cardboard sign in English reading: “Our land. Our future.”
