Now the U.S. is pushing for a more permanent military presence in Greenland. This call echoes a sentiment as the need for Arctic security grows more dire. In a speech on Arctic security last week, U.S. Vice President JD Vance blasted Denmark for failing to invest enough in Greenland’s security. This comes as both Russia and China show significant interest in Arctic passageways, including those in Greenland, which the U.S. deems crucial for national security.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen did not take kindly to the criticism. Rasmussen conceded that Denmark was and should be “open to criticism” but was unhappy with the way the U.S. went about criticizing.
“This is not how you speak to your close allies,” said Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
Linking up the U.S.’s closest allies, Greenland plays a key strategic role for the U.S., chiefly because of the presence of the Pituffik Space Base on the island. This all-important base is the key. It will be the first sensor to warn the U.S. if an adversary fires a missile. President Donald Trump recently brought attention to why Greenland is so strategically important for U.S. security. He warned that anything less than America’s determination to do whatever it took to defend the territory would embolden the enemy.
For one thing, the U.S. has deep historical ties to Greenland. As Russian President Vladimir Putin noted, efforts to occupy the territory date back to the 1860s. That strategic significance has only deepened with increased Russian and Chinese military investments into Arctic naval routes.
For his part, Vice President JD Vance has charged that Denmark is underinvesting in Greenland’s defense. He connects this criticism to his larger alarm about European allies lagging in defense spending.
“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, China and other nations with interest in this area,” stated U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
Denmark’s Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen condemned President Trump’s comments as “disrespectful,” while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the U.S. plans as creating “unacceptable pressure.” Though this tension exists, Denmark is still willing to talk about deepening military cooperation with the U.S.
“We respect that the United States needs a greater military presence in Greenland, as Vice President Vance mentioned this evening. We, Denmark and Greenland, are very much open to discussing this with you,” stated Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.