Vance says Denmark has 'not done a good job' at keeping Greenland secure as Trump pushes for U.S. ownership
Vice President JD Vance is set to land in Greenland to a chorus of anger and anxiety at White House plans to seize the Arctic territory by any means necessary.
Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Denmark and other European allies during his visit to Greenland on Friday, as the Trump administration continues to push U.S. ownership of the semi-autonomous territory.
Speaking to servicemembers at Pituffik Space Base, a U.S. Space Force base on the northwestern coast of Greenland, Vance argued that Greenlanders would be better off being under the protection of the U.S. than under Denmark.
“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."
Days after President Donald Trump said that the U.S. “would go as far as we have to” to take ownership of territory, Vance made a pitch to the people of Greenland: "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."
Asked if the Trump administration had plans to expand the U.S. military's presence in Greenland, Vance said there aren't, but said they do plan to invest more resources such as ice breakers and additional naval ships in the area. He argues it's part of an effort to put an end to ignoring encroachment from other countries, which he said the U.S. has done for the last 40 years.
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