JD Vance says Denmark ‘has not done a good job by the people of Greenland’ – Europe live
JD Vance’s criticism of Denmark over Greenland – summary
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US vice-president JD Vance said Denmark “has not done a good job at keeping Greenland safe,” accusing it of “underinvesting in the people of Greenland and … in the security architecture” of the island (19:23).
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He argued that “Denmark has not kept pace in devoting the resources necessary to keep this base, to keep our troops, and in my view, to keep the people of Greenland safe” from Russia, China and other nations with interest in this area” (19:20).
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He accused Denmark of “passing it all off” to Americans and hoping they would pick up the bill for it (19:30), saying the US argument was “with the leadership of Greenland,” adding: “this simply must change” (19:25)
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He called for allies to “wake up from a failed 40-year consensus that said that we could ignore the encroachment of powerful countries as they expand to their ambitions” and said “we can’t just … bury our head in the snow” (19:27).
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Vance appeared to back the independence movement in Greenland, saying the administration’s view was that the Greenlanders would “choose … to become independent of Denmark, and then we are going to have conversations … from there” (19:41).
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But he said that Trump “does not think that military force is going to be necessary” to see the advances the US wants.
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Speaking more broadly about the Trump administration’s policies, including on tariffs, he said “we are done being the piggy bank of the entire world,” while repeating his attack on “European friends” for “neglecting international security for 40 years” (19:35).
Key events
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Vance’s speech in two versions – snap analysis
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JD Vance’s criticism of Denmark over Greenland – summary
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US threat assessment on Greenland – notes
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Copenhagen’s diplomatic nightmare scenario – snap analysis
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We think Greenlanders will choose independence and we’re going to have conversations with Greenlanders from there, Vance says
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‘We’re done being piggy bank of entire world,’ Vance says on tariffs and security
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Denmark ‘passed it all off to brave Americans and hope we would pick up tab,’ Vance says
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‘Our argument is with leadership of Denmark,’ Vance says
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‘You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,’ Vance tells Denmark
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Vance directly attacks Denmark for ‘not keeping pace’ with resources, keeping Greenland safe
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Vance talks about importance of Greenland base
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JD Vance delivers his speech in Greenland
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US needs control over Greenland and ‘can’t do without it,’ Trump says
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Vance meets US soldiers at Pituffik base in Greenland – video
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Military briefing gets under way
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Vance says he will talk about US ‘interest in Greenland’
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JD Vance lands in Greenland
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Danish leaders ‘spent decades mistreating the Greenlandic people, treating them like second-class citizens,’ senior White House source tells Fox
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Vance says ‘looking forward’ to Greenland visit as he shares post blaming Denmark for ‘ugly, dishonest spat’ over plans
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So many souvenirs for JD Vance to take home from Greenland: oil, gas, minerals – and that’s just the start – comment
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Responding to US pressure, ensuring equality in relations with Denmark top tasks for new government, former PM and new finance minister says
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New Greenlandic PM repeats criticism of Vance’s visit as ‘not showing respect to ally’
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Danish PM congratulates new Greenlandic government
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New Greenlandic government formed, eyes discussion on future relationship with Denmark
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Greenland parties sign coalition agreement to form new government – video
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JD Vance expected to speak at Pituffik Space Base this afternoon – media reports
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Connection to Pituffik re-restablished, Tussas tells Guardian
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Lines down in Putiffik, Greenlandic telecoms company says
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US puts European alliances at risk by threatening to annex Greenland, senior Danish lawmaker says
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Four Greenlandic parties set to sign coalition agreement today
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‘Welcome to the top of the world’ – location
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JD Vance to face frosty reception in Greenland – analysis
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Morning opening: You’re (not) welcome here
Vance’s speech in two versions – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
If you are a “glass half empty” person, this is a direct diplomatic challenge to Copenhagen criticising it for “not doing a good job”, exploiting existing and real tensions with the Greenlandic people, and effectively declaring the US support for the Greenlandic independence movement with a view to closer partnership with the US further down the line.
But if you are a “glass half full” person, Vance’s comments were actually a bit reassuring on the US respect for the self-determination of Greenland, not necessarily talking about making it a part of the US but only about some sort of partnership, and he clearly played down the scenario of using force to take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Your pick.
Jakub Krupa
Think of this as Vance’s third big intervention on Europe: first in Munich, then with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, and now this, on Greenland.
All three send a very clear signal to European allies from the new US administration.
JD Vance’s criticism of Denmark over Greenland – summary
-
US vice-president JD Vance said Denmark “has not done a good job at keeping Greenland safe,” accusing it of “underinvesting in the people of Greenland and … in the security architecture” of the island (19:23).
-
He argued that “Denmark has not kept pace in devoting the resources necessary to keep this base, to keep our troops, and in my view, to keep the people of Greenland safe” from Russia, China and other nations with interest in this area” (19:20).
-
He accused Denmark of “passing it all off” to Americans and hoping they would pick up the bill for it (19:30), saying the US argument was “with the leadership of Greenland,” adding: “this simply must change” (19:25)
-
He called for allies to “wake up from a failed 40-year consensus that said that we could ignore the encroachment of powerful countries as they expand to their ambitions” and said “we can’t just … bury our head in the snow” (19:27).
-
Vance appeared to back the independence movement in Greenland, saying the administration’s view was that the Greenlanders would “choose … to become independent of Denmark, and then we are going to have conversations … from there” (19:41).
-
But he said that Trump “does not think that military force is going to be necessary” to see the advances the US wants.
-
Speaking more broadly about the Trump administration’s policies, including on tariffs, he said “we are done being the piggy bank of the entire world,” while repeating his attack on “European friends” for “neglecting international security for 40 years” (19:35).
And JD Vance is back on the plane and soon will be on the way back to the US.
But the fallout from this visit will continue for much longer.
US threat assessment on Greenland – notes
For what it’s worth, as context to Vance’s words on Chinese and Russian threat to Greenland, here are relevant excerpts from the annual threat assessment of the US intelligence community, published earlier this month.
On China:
China has gradually increased engagement with Greenland mainly through mining projects, infrastructure development, and scientific research projects. Despite less active engagement right now, China’s long-term goal is to expand access to Greenland’s natural resources, as well as to use the same access as a key strategic foothold for advancing China’s broader and economic aims in the Arctic.
On Russia:
Russia’s interest in Greenland is focused mainly on its proximity to strategically important naval routes between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans—including for nuclear-armed submarines—and the fact that Greenland hosts a key U.S. military base.
Copenhagen’s diplomatic nightmare scenario – snap analysis
Jakub Krupa
Putting aside the threat of using military force, this speech is pretty close to a diplomatic nightmare scenario for Denmark.
It’s a direct, full-throated US backing for the Greenlandic independence “and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.”
Expect a robust reaction from Copenhagen.
Responding to the last question, Vance says the US would protect Greenland from “economic exploitation” and “terrible economic debt traps that would make the people of Greenland not self-determined and sovereign, but … mortgage their future to hostile foreign countries that do not have their best interests at heart.”
What we want to do is to protect the security of this territory, because it matters for us and it matters for the people who live here.
And that concludes the press conference.
We think Greenlanders will choose independence and we’re going to have conversations with Greenlanders from there, Vance says
Back to Greenland, Vance is asked whether his language today is more about encouraging the Greenlandic people to vote for independence, and not using military force to take the island.
He says the rhetoric has not changed.
“Look, the president said, clearly he doesn’t think that military force is going to be necessary, but he absolutely believes that Greenland is important part of the security, not just of the United States, but of the world.”
He goes on to say that Greenland is “extremely vulnerable right now” and he hopes that the people of Greenland will “partner” with the US.
“We could make them much more secure, we could do a lot more protection, and I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well.
This has to happen, and the reason it has to happen, I hate to say it, is because our friends in Denmark have not done their job in keeping this area safe. They just haven’t done it.”
Speaking of president Trump’s view, he says “what we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self determination, to become independent of Denmark, and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.”
He adds:
“So I think that talking about anything too far in the future is way too premature.
We do not think that military force 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.”
Briefly turning to Russia, Vance says the US feels “very good about where things are” in negotiations as he says some issues are to do with “mistranslations and some of them are not totally clear what is even being asked for.”
“ I think that we’ve made an incredible amount of progress,” he says.
‘We’re done being piggy bank of entire world,’ Vance says on tariffs and security
Vance then gets asked about tariffs, and specifically speaks about Canada saying that “as president Trump often says, they just don’t have the cards.”
“There is no way that Canada can win a trade war with the United States,” he asserts.
He then says Trump ran on the ticket of “we’re done being the piggy bank of the entire world for 40 years in the same way that our European friends, I think, have neglected international security for 40 years,” and that drives Trump’s agenda.
After a few questions about the US strike against Houthis and the “Signalgate,” Vance is back talking about Greenland, as he gets asked if there were any “specific threats coming from China and Russia” he heard about today.
He says “that the Chinese are very, very interested in this island,” and adds “we’ve seen some of the economic pressures that they’ve tried to place on Greenland.”
“For world security, what we have to recognise is that if the Chinese and the Russians are going to pursue their national interest, we need a president who’s going to pursue the American national interest, and that means ensuring that Greenland is safe,” he says.
Denmark ‘passed it all off to brave Americans and hope we would pick up tab,’ Vance says
Asked about the president’s policy to acquire Greenland, Vance once again attacks Denmark, as he says Trump was clear that “we respect the self-determination of the people of Greenland.”
But he says he is willing to make an argument to them that they would be “a lot better having coming under the US security umbrella than you have been under Denmark security umbrella.”
“Because what Denmark’s security umbrella has meant is, effectively, they’ve passed it all off to brave Americans and hope that we would pick up a tab.”
Turning to Greenlanders again, he says both president Trump and himself “hope that they choose to partner with the United States, because we’re the only nation on earth that will respect their sovereignty and respect their security, because their security is very much our security.”
In Q&A, Vance notes that securing Greenland would “require investing more resources,” including in military icebreakers and naval ships with greater presence in Greenland – but there are no immediate plans for deployment now.
He then talks about the risks and dangers posed by China and Russia in particular.
“We need to wake up from a failed 40 year consensus that said that we could ignore the encroachment of powerful countries as they expand to their ambitions.
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.
We know that they are.”
‘Our argument is with leadership of Denmark,’ Vance says
Turning to Greenlanders, Vance says how much he heard about the respect of the US military for Greenlanders, and stresses the US “believe in the self-determination of this population, of the people of Greenland.”
“Our argument is very simple. It is not with the people of Greenland, who I think are incredible and have an incredible opportunity here.
Our argument really is with the leadership of Denmark, which is under invested in Greenland and under invested in its security architecture that simply must change.”
‘You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,’ Vance tells Denmark
Vance continues saying that “the story of Greenland over the past 20 years when it comes to security is that we’ve under invested in the infrastructure.”
He says when he first made similar comments “there was a lot of criticism from Denmark” for what he says was “saying the obvious, which is that Denmark has not done a good job at keeping Greenland safe.”
He dismisses the argument that many Danes lost their lives in the “war on terror” fighting alongside the US, saying that while he “honours the sacrifice of our Danish friends,” he wants to focus on the future.
He says:
“Recognising that there are important security partnerships in the past does not mean that we can’t have disagreements with allies in the present about how to preserve our shared security for the future, and that’s what this is about.
There is no amount of bullying, no amount of obfuscating, no amount of confusing the issue.
Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland.
You have under invested in the people of Greenland, and you have under invested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people.
That has to change, and because it hasn’t changed, this is why President Trump’s policy in Greenland is what it is.”
Vance directly attacks Denmark for ‘not keeping pace’ with resources, keeping Greenland safe
JD Vance then turns directly against Denmark, saying he wanted to “be honest what failed over the last 20 years to do in some cases,” saying the area is less important, because “allies have not kept up as China and Russia have taken greater and greater interest in Greenland.”
“We know that too often our allies in Europe have not kept pace. They haven’t kept pace with military spending.
And Denmark has not kept pace in devoting 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 from other nations.”
Vance talks about importance of Greenland base
Vance starts by talking about the importance of Greenland and this base, as he says:
If, God forbid, to my fellow Americans, if a missile was fired from an enemy country or an enemy submarine into the United States, it is the people here before us, who would give notice to our brave men and women further south, in the United States to let people know what was coming, and God willing to try to shoot it down and prepare for it.
He says Russia and China and other nations “are taking an extraordinary interest in Artic passageways,” and the US needs to “lead in the Arctic, because we know that if America doesn’t, other nations will fill the gap”.
