JD Vance says Denmark ‘has not done a good job by the people of Greenland’ – Europe live | Europe

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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).

Key events

During his visit to Greenland, JD Vance said that there are “no immediate plans” to expand US military presence in the Danish territory.

Nevertheless, he said that Russia and China have an increased footprint across Greenland and said “we need to wake up.”

“We can’t bury our heads in the sand – or in this case in the snow – and pretend the Chinese are not interested in this landmass,” Vance said.

Another Greenlander, Karline Poulsen, told the BBC that she disagrees with the tone Donald Trump has struck on Greenland.

“There are many ways to say things but I think the way president Trump is saying it is not the way.”

Describing Trump’s words “like a threat” to the outlet, Poulsen added that Greenland’s new coalition government sends a powerful message to the US “if they consider things that way.”

Speaking to the BBC, several Greenlanders expressed their concerns over US vice president JD Vance’s visit to Greenland.

“I’m concerned [about the visit]…this is kind of odd, I don’t like it,” one woman, Nina, told the outlet.

Nina’s daughter, Anita, echoed similar sentiments, saying that the “intentions” of the Americans “aren’t as pure or as clear as they claim to be.”

Less than 30% of Americans want to join Greenland, according to a March poll from Fox News which CNN’s Anderson Cooper aired on Friday.

Meanwhile, 85% of Greenlanders are opposed to the US taking over the territory.

Since assuming the White House earlier this year, Trump has repeatedly stated plans for the US to take over the Danish territory.

His vice president JD Vance is currently visiting US troops in Greenland, telling them that Denmark “have not done a good job by the people of Greenland.”

Vance added that Greenland would be better off “coming under the United States’ security umbrella than you have been under Denmark’s security umbrella.”

In response to US vice president JD Vance’s visit to Greenland, California’s Democratic representative Eric Swalwell took to X and criticized Vance’s visit to the Danish territory, saying:

“What the hell is JD Vance doing in Greenland? They don’t want him there. We don’t need him there. Why won’t he go to Greensboro or Green Bay to see how much Trump’s tariff tax is costing people?”

Jakub Krupa

And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, but I’m leaving the blog with Maya Yang for more reactions so stay with us on Europe Live.

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 vice-president JD Vance tours the US military’s Pituffik Space Base in Greenland. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

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 promise the US “then are going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.”

Expect a 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.”