On Friday, Denmark responded to the Trump administration’s “tone” on Greenland by saying, “this is not how you speak to your close allies.”
Just hours after Vice President JD Vance visited an American military installation in Greenland, where he lambasted Denmark, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen issued the statement in a taped video.
Rasmussen stated, “I have a message for all people listening including our American allies. A lot is being said these days. Many claims and many charges have been leveled. And naturally we welcome criticism. But to be very honest, we don’t like the tone of its presentation. You don’t talk to your close friends like this. I still view the United States and Denmark as close friends.
The Trump administration has contended that Denmark is neglecting to shield Greenland from Russian and Chinese invasion; Vance told American troops at the Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, “Denmark hasn’t done a good job at keeping Greenland safe.”
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance stated. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and in the security system of this amazing, gorgeous continent packed with extraordinary people. That must alter.
In his second term, Trump has set out to seize Greenland from Denmark.
Rasmussen stated that “we respect” the requirement for the United States to have increased military presence in Greenland and thinks “much more” can be done under the current 1951 defense agreement with the United States.
The foreign minister stated, “Let us do it together and let us make use of that.”
Rasmussen pointed to Vance’s comments on how little both Denmark and the United States had done in the Arctic. Rasmussen stated in his note that both nations have been “harvesting the peace dividend” and behaving under the idea that the Arctic should remain “a low-changing area.”
He said, “But that moment is past.” The status quo is not an option. That is also why we have increased our involvement.
A few weeks ago, Rasmussen explained how Copenhagen spent one billion dollars on Arctic security to offer additional drones, ships and soldiers in the region.
Though he said Copenhagen will increase to do its share, the foreign minister also pointed out that Greenland is a NATO member and invited all partners to take “a greater role in the Arctic.”
We shall carry our portion of the duty. Rasmussen stated unequivocally that no one should question it.
