Denmark pushed back against US Vice-President JD Vance on Saturday, criticizing his “tone” after he accused Copenhagen of neglecting investment in Greenland during a visit to the Danish territory.
“We are open to criticisms, but let me be completely honest, we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered. This is not how you speak to your close allies, and I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies,” Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said in a video posted on X.
Vance spent three hours in Greenland on Friday, visiting the US military’s Pituffik Space Base. The trip, initiated by the Trump administration, faced opposition from Greenlanders and local officials. During his visit, Vance warned against ignoring China and Russia’s interests in the Arctic region.
“We can’t just bury our head in the sand,” Vance told reporters. “Or, in Greenland, bury our head in the snow.”
The visit comes amid renewed pressure from President Donald Trump, who has long advocated for U.S. control over Greenland, calling it vital to national security. Recently, Trump stated, “We need it. We have to have it,” emphasizing the island’s strategic location and resources.
While Vance softened his rhetoric, affirming that the US would respect Greenland’s right to self-determination, the visit stirred controversy. Greenland’s government, which did not invite the U.S. delegation, condemned the trip as “highly aggressive.” Planned protests in Nuuk led to the cancellation of Usha Vance’s cultural visits, reducing the trip to the remote military site.
Foreign policy analysts view the scaled-down itinerary as a tactical retreat. “On the one hand, they de-escalated by skipping the PR stunt. On the other hand, it’s a symbolic escalation that the highest-ranking official is visiting Greenland,” said Lars Trier Mogensen, a political analyst in Copenhagen.
Greenland’s recent parliamentary elections resulted in a new coalition government that excludes the pro-Trump Naleraq party. Qupanuk Olsen, a social media influencer and Naleraq member, defended the party’s stance. “Being open to cooperation with the U.S. is being interpreted as sucking up to them,” she said. “But it’s really just about openness to business and trade.”
Despite Vance’s assurances, resentment remains strong among Greenlanders. “I don’t know what he wants,” said Nuuk resident Tupaarnaq Kanuthsen. “He’s not welcome.”
