US Vice-President JD Vance has accused Denmark of leaving Greenland susceptible to alleged incursions by China and Russia, as he urged its individuals to “accomplice” with the US.
Talking throughout a go to to the Arctic island, Vance stated he hoped Greenlanders would vote for independence from Denmark, which he stated had not invested sufficient to guard the semi-autonomous territory.
Vance’s claims that its ally Denmark had “not carried out job” in defending Greenland come after repeated US threats to take over the island.
An overwhelming majority of Greenlander oppose the thought of annexation, a ballot indicated in January. Greenland’s prime minister has stated the US go to confirmed a “lack of respect”.
And Denmark’s King Frederik additionally rejected the US plan.
“We stay in an altered actuality,” stated the monarch on social media on Friday.
“There ought to be no doubt that my love for Greenland and my connectedness to the individuals of Greenland are intact.”
On Friday’s go to to Pituffik Area Base, a missile defence facility in the distant north of the island, Vance advised a information convention that Russia, China and different nations had been taking an “extraordinary curiosity” in routes and minerals within the area.
The island of 57,000 individuals is believed to carry large untapped mineral and oil reserves.
The vice-president stated the US didn’t have instant plans to increase the American navy presence on the floor, however would make investments extra assets, together with naval ships and navy icebreakers.
“Our message to Denmark is very easy,” Vance stated.
“You have not carried out a good job by the individuals of Greenland. You have under-invested in the individuals of Greenland and you have under-invested in the safety structure of this unbelievable, lovely landmass.”
He additionally stated Denmark had did not “maintain the individuals of Greenland protected from numerous very aggressive incursions from Russia, from China, and different nations”, with out offering additional particulars.
The vice-president stated the individuals of Greenland would have “self-determination” and the US would respect its sovereignty.
“We hope that they select to accomplice with the United States, as a result of we’re the one nation on Earth that can respect their sovereignty and respect their safety, as a result of their safety may be very a lot our safety,” he stated.
Vance was joined by his spouse, Second Girl Usha Vance, US nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz, and power secretary Chris Wright.
The skin temperature at Pituffik was -3F (-19 C).
The US second girl had initially been as a result of journey to Greenland simply together with her son to attend a dogsled race within the city of Sisimiut.
However after a number of protests had been scheduled, the go to to Sisimiut was cancelled and changed with simply the cease at the navy base.
Again on the White Home, President Donald Trump insisted the US wanted Greenland to ensure “peace of your entire world” and that its waterways had “Chinese language and Russian ships in every single place”.
“We want Greenland, very importantly, for worldwide safety,” he stated.
“We have to have Greenland. It is not a query of: ‘Do you assume we will do with out it?’ We will not.”
He stated Denmark and the European Union understood the scenario “and if they do not, we’ll have to elucidate it to them”.
In an announcement to the BBC, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen took problem with Vance’s feedback.
“For a few years we’ve stood aspect by aspect with the Individuals in very troublesome conditions,” she stated. “Due to this fact, it’s not an correct approach for the vice-president to seek advice from Denmark.”
She stated Denmark had considerably elevated defence spending, however would additional enhance its funding with extra surveillance, new Arctic ships, long-range drones and satellite tv for pc capability.
“We’re prepared – day and night time – to co-operate with the Individuals,” she stated. “A cooperation that should be based mostly on the required worldwide guidelines of the sport.”
Greenland’s new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, stated previous to Vance’s go to that it confirmed “an absence of respect for the Greenlandic individuals”.
In Greenland’s capital of Nuuk, some individuals the BBC spoke to weren’t received over by the US overtures.
At a cultural centre within the metropolis, artist Karline Poulsen stated: “There are a lot of methods to say issues. However I feel the way in which President Trump is saying it’s not the way in which.”
A girl who gave her title solely as Nina stated: “I am involved [about the visit]. That is form of odd, I do not prefer it.”
Her daughter, Anita, stated the go to has prompted “numerous uncertainty and lots of people are fearful”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday he thought of Trump’s plans for Greenland “critical”.
He expressed concern that “Nato nations, normally, are more and more designating the Far North as a springboard for attainable conflicts”.
