Get the Inside Scoop: Editor’s Digest
Every week, Roula Khalaf, the Editor of the FT, handpicks her favorite stories to share in a newsletter that you can access for free.
Over the weekend, Danish officials responded to sharp criticism from JD Vance concerning their handling of Greenland, turning the tables by pointing out that the United States has significantly reduced its military footprint in the Arctic.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s foreign minister, addressed the unexpected visit by the U.S. vice-president to a U.S. military base in Greenland. Although he acknowledged Denmark’s openness to feedback, he took issue with the manner of delivery, stating, “This is not how you speak to your close allies.”
He elaborated, “Back in 1945, the U.S. operated 17 bases and military installations in Greenland, staffed by thousands of soldiers. Today, there’s only one American base with around 200 soldiers. There’s room to do much more, and we should do it together.”
The geopolitical focus on Greenland, with its population of 57,000, intensified after Donald Trump expressed a public interest in purchasing the island from Denmark.
Along with U.S. national security adviser Mike Waltz and energy secretary Chris Wright, Vance visited Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base on Friday, accusing Denmark of inadequately serving the people of Greenland.
Although part of the Danish kingdom, Greenland functions as a semi-autonomous territory, and independence is a future goal for many of its residents.
While Danish officials have committed $2 billion to a new defense package acknowledging their past underinvestment, they initially approached Trump’s acquisition ambitions with caution. Recently, however, their stance against the U.S. criticisms has become more assertive.
Rasmussen pointed out that Vance himself acknowledged the U.S.’s own insufficiencies in Arctic investments, noting, “We were all enjoying the peace dividend, assuming Arctic low-tension status would persist. But those days are gone; maintaining the status quo is no longer viable.”
Trump has also argued that the U.S. is lagging behind Russia and China, particularly in icebreaker capabilities, as the geopolitical competition heats up in anticipation of Arctic ice melting.
Despite Trump’s assertive language about “needing” Greenland, including hints at potential military use, Danish and Greenlandic leaders were appalled and refused such military interventions outright.
Vance, on Friday, expressed his belief that “military force is not likely to be necessary,” partly because he suspects Greenland may opt for independence and thus, naturally align more closely with the U.S. He also warned of threats from China and Russia but noted that the only publicized threat so far came from the U.S. itself.
Denmark, which has supported U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, was distressed by criticisms from such a close ally. However, they found some relief that Vance didn’t intensify the disagreements further. “I expected it to be worse,” one official admitted.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed back on Vance’s remarks, calling them an unfair critique against Denmark, which she described as “a good and strong ally” to the United States.
According to a comprehensive defense agreement made in 1951, the U.S. can establish military bases throughout Greenland, provided Danish sovereignty is respected.
In recent years, both Danish and Greenlandic officials have repeatedly invited the U.S. to expand its military presence, yet it has opted to reduce its footprint instead.
On Friday, Greenland announced a new, expansive government coalition. The newly appointed Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, criticized Vance’s lack of respect for making an unsolicited visit during the sensitive period of forming the new government.
