Vance scolds Denmark during Greenland trip as Trump says US must have island

 

US Vice-President JD Vance spent a handful of hours in Greenland today, on a whirlwind trip alongside his wife Usha and Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz. Here's what happened:

 

• They visited the US Pituffik Space Base in the far north of the Arctic island, where Vance spoke with troops 

• The vice-president scolded Denmark for not spending more on security in the region, saying they have "not done a good job" for the people of Greenland 

• He reinforced President Donald Trump's vow to take control of the island, saying that this would be achieved through appealing to the people of Greenland, and not through military means 

• Vance said Russia and China are increasing their footprints in the area and the world cannot "bury our heads in the sand - or in this case in the snow" 

• Trump told reporters at the White House that "we have to have Greenland"

 

• Locals in Greenland expressed concerns about Vance's visit, with several telling the BBC that his presence threatens the island 

• Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told the BBC that Vance's comments about Denmark were not accurate, and "for many years we have stood side-by-side with the Americans in very difficult situations"

 

We’re pausing our live coverage for the day, but here's some further reading about the US-Greenland relationship:

 

• Vance scolds Denmark during Greenland trip
• Why does Trump want Greenland and what do its people think?
• Putin nods to Trump plans to seize Greenland

'We’re afraid of being colonised again' - Greenlander politician

Qupanuk Olsen, a Greenland politician with the pro-independence party Naleraq, says the country is taking Donald Trump's demands very seriously.

 

She tells the BBC's Maryam Moshiri that Donald Trump Jr's visit in January first sparked concerns, saying "that’s when we realised that his words are no longer just words, he actually means what he says".

 

"We’re afraid of being colonised again. We’ve been a colony for the past 300 years under Denmark, it still feels like it," Olsen says. "Now another coloniser is interested in us."

 

Olsen, however, says Greenland needs to be "open-minded" and consider strengthening relations with the US to secure a sustainable independence strategy.

 

"Trump is only going to be president for the next four years so we also need to think about what’s going to happen in 10 years, 15 years," she adds.

How JD Vance's speech has been received in Denmarkpublished at 17:19

17:19

 

We just heard from the Danish prime minister. Now let's look at some more reactions out of Denmark, after US Vice-President JD Vance's speech in Greenland earlier today.

 

"I am a little provoked," says the country’s Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen. He tells Danish network TV2, "These are very harsh words, and I am a little offended when you think that Denmark has always been there for the USA."

 

Jakob Kaarsbo, a former Chief Analyst in the Danish Defense Intelligence Agency, told Danish broadcaster DR, the speech was a “political propaganda stunt”. He added, "It is true that Denmark has underinvested in the surveillance capabilities that have been agreed upon, but the US has also underinvested in their own military efforts in Greenland and in the Arctic for many years.”

 

"In isolation, this is a de-escalation,” Former Foreign Minister Mogens Lykketoft, told Danish newspaper Berlingke. "But you don't really know if Trump will think differently tomorrow.”

 

Denmark’s ambassador to the US, Jesper Møller Sørensen responded to JD Vance directly in a tweet on X, "We agree that we both could have done even more, which is why Denmark is taking action. Another 2 bn USD investment in January - more to come soon… Our defence spending is now at 3.2%."

 

 

Read More Here:   BBC  Nrws