NUUK, Greenland —The Danish overseas minister on Saturday scolded the Trump administration for its “tone” in criticizing Denmark and Greenland, saying his nation is already investing extra into Arctic safety and stays open to extra cooperation with the U.S.
International Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, make the remarks in a video posted to social media after U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s go to to the strategic island.
“Many accusations and plenty of allegations have been made. And naturally we’re open to criticism,” Rasmussen mentioned talking in English. “However let me be utterly sincere: we don’t recognize the tone by which it’s being delivered. This isn’t the way you communicate to your shut allies. And I nonetheless think about Denmark and america to be shut allies.”
Vance on Friday mentioned Denmark has “underinvested” in Greenland’s safety and demanded that Denmark change its method as President Donald Trump pushes to take over the Danish territory.
Vance visited U.S. troops on Pituffik House Base on mineral-rich Greenland alongside his spouse and different senior U.S. officers for a visit that was in the end scaled again after an uproar amongst Greenlanders and Danes who weren’t consulted in regards to the unique itinerary.
“Our message to Denmark could be very easy: You haven’t executed an excellent job by the folks of Greenland,” Vance mentioned Friday. “You will have underinvested within the folks of Greenland, and you’ve got underinvested within the safety structure of this unbelievable, stunning landmass stuffed with unbelievable folks. That has to alter.”
Vance mentioned the U.S. has “no choice” however to take a big place to make sure the safety of Greenland as he inspired a push in Greenland for independence from Denmark.
“I believe that they in the end will associate with america,” Vance mentioned. “We might make them rather more safe. We might do much more safety. And I believe they’d fare so much higher economically as effectively.”
The response by members of Greenland’s parliament and residents has rendered that unlikely, with anger erupting over the Trump administration’s makes an attempt to annex the huge Arctic island. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed again on Vance’s declare that Denmark isn’t doing sufficient for protection within the Arctic, calling her nation “an excellent and powerful ally.”
And Greenlandic lawmakers on Thursday agreed to kind a brand new authorities, banding collectively to withstand Trump’s overtures. 4 of the 5 events elected to Greenland’s parliament earlier this month have agreed to kind a coalition that may have 23 of 31 seats within the legislature.
Løkke Rasmussen, in his video, reminded viewers of the 1951 protection settlement between Denmark and america. Since 1945, the American army presence in Greenland has decreased from hundreds of troopers over 17 bases and installations on the island, he mentioned, to the distant Pituffik House Base within the northwest with some 200 troopers as we speak.
The 1951 settlement “affords ample alternative for america to have a a lot stronger army presence in Greenland,” the overseas minister mentioned. “If that’s what you would like, then allow us to focus on it.”
Løkke Rasmussen added that Denmark has elevated its personal funding into Arctic protection. In January, Denmark introduced 14.6 billion Danish kroner (US$2.1 billion) in monetary commitments for Arctic safety masking three new naval vessels, long-range drones and satellites.
