JD Vance Reiterates US Desire to Take Greenland

NUUK, SATURDAY - United States Vice President JD Vance believes that the residents of Greenland would prefer the United States over Denmark. Copenhagen is deemed incapable of properly managing Nuuk.

Vance conveyed this during a visit to the U.S. base in Pituffik, Greenland, on Friday (28/3/2025). The base is located nearly 1,500 kilometers northwest of Nuuk, the capital of Greenland.

Vance reiterated the claim that the island, which has been part of Denmark's territory since 1721, is under threat. The United States has no choice but to increase its presence there.

Nuuk is closer to Washington DC, at 3,252 kilometers, compared to Copenhagen, at 3,500 kilometers. The closest distance from Greenland's mainland to Denmark is 2,072 kilometers. Meanwhile, the closest distance from Greenland's mainland to the United States, specifically the border between the State of Maine in the U.S. and the State of New Brunswick in Canada, is 1,992 kilometers.

Greenland, Vance said, is better off under the US security umbrella than Denmark. US policy is to change the leadership in Greenland. "Yes, the Greenlanders will have a referendum. We hope they choose to partner with the US because we are the only nation in the world that respects their sovereignty and respects their security. Their security is inextricably linked to our security," he said as quoted by CNN on Saturday (3/29/2025).

He stated this within the U.S. base and far from the residents of Greenland. Several of Vance's activities located near the Greenland settlement area have been canceled.

According to him, Denmark does not keep Greenland safe from Russia and China. "Denmark does not match or allocate the necessary resources to maintain this base, protect our forces, and, in my opinion, keep the people of Greenland safe from various aggressive attacks from Russia, China, and other countries," said Vance.

According to him, Russia, China, and other countries have shown extraordinary interest in the Arctic route, shipping lanes, and mineral reserves in Greenland. So far, Vance stated that the U.S. does not plan to increase troops on Greenland's mainland. The U.S. will add ships capable of operating near Greenland.

When Greenlanders expressed deep concern about the visit, Vance promised that they were self-determining and that the US would respect their sovereignty.

"I think they will ultimately partner with the United States. We can make them much safer. We can do more protection. And I think they will be much better off economically," Vance said.

Vance's remarks reaffirmed US President Donald Trump's desire to buy or control Greenland. If it cannot be bought, Trump is considering military options to control Greenland. In addition to Trump, several US presidents have had similar desires.

Greenland has a strategic location and is rich in natural resources, including critical minerals and rare earth metals (REEs). REEs are important for the development of high-tech industries, such as electric vehicles, smartphones, and missile systems. Some of the mining companies operating in Greenland are from Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the U.S. visit showed a “lack of respect.” On Thursday, residents in Nuuk planted Greenlandic flags in the snow and put up cardboard signs in English that read “Our Land. Our Future.”

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected Vance’s comments, saying Denmark was a “good and strong ally” and was boosting its defense capabilities in the region, with new Arctic ships and long-range drones.

"For many years we have stood side by side with America in very difficult situations. Therefore, the vice president's description of Denmark is unfair," Frederiksen said in a statement to the Danish news agency Ritzau.

Denmark is a long-standing ally and member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Vance’s harsh words toward Denmark are another example of how little the Trump administration has cared for U.S. allies since taking office. Last month, Vance also took aim at Europe over free speech and illegal migration.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Vance had argued that Denmark had not done enough. “But I was a little provoked because America has not done enough,” he said.

According to Rasmussen, the US now has a base with 200 troops. Meanwhile, during the Cold War, Washington had 17 military installations with 10,000 troops in Greenland.

Danish Ambassador to the US Jesper Møller Sørensen thanked Vance for his interest in Arctic security. He said the two countries agreed that more could be done. Denmark is moving forward with a $2 billion investment and other plans.

"Since 1949, Greenland and Denmark have been an integral part of NATO, thus falling under the same security and defense umbrella. Our defense spending now stands at 3.2 percent. Greenland and Denmark share the desire to strengthen our already very close ties with our friends and allies," wrote Sørensen on platform X.

According to The Washington Post, ahead of Vance's arrival, four of the five newly elected parties in Greenland's parliament signed an agreement to form a grand coalition. They committed to maintaining relations with Denmark while opposing Trump's plans.

“Now is a time when we as a society are under pressure. We must come together. Together we are stronger,” Nielsen said before the agreement was signed to applause and cheers in the capital, Nuuk.

In an Instagram post, Frederiksen congratulated Nielsen and her new government. “I look forward to working closely together in this time of unnecessary conflict,” she wrote.

Polls show that nearly all Greenlanders oppose joining the US. Anti-American protesters have staged some of the largest demonstrations ever seen in Greenland. Some protesters wore “Make America Go Away” hats and carried “Yankees Go Home” signs.

Inuk Kristensen (30) said Greenlanders were shaken by the current situation. “My opinion is the same as everyone else: Of course you don’t do things this way. You don’t just come here and say you want to buy this place,” he said.

Andreas Oesthagen, a senior researcher in Arctic politics and security at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, said it was unlikely the US would use military means to take control of Greenland.

“However, it is likely that President Trump and Vice President Vance will continue to use other means of pressure, such as ambiguous statements, semi-official visits to Greenland, and economic instruments,” Oesthagen said in Oslo, Norway. (AP/Reuters)