Denmark has responded to criticisms from the Trump administration regarding Greenland, stating that the tone in which the criticisms were delivered was not appropriate for close allies. The Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, released a recorded video after Vice President JD Vance visited an American military base in Greenland and criticized Denmark for failing to protect Greenland from Russian and Chinese aggression. Rasmussen emphasized that Denmark and the United States are close allies, despite the criticisms.
The Trump administration has accused Denmark of underinvesting in Greenland and not adequately protecting its people. Vice President Vance stated that Denmark has not done a good job for the people of Greenland and needs to increase its investments in the security architecture of the region. It has been reported that President Trump has made it a priority to take over Greenland from Denmark in his second administration, further straining the relationship between the two countries.
Denmark has expressed willingness to work with the U.S. to increase military presence in Greenland and ensure the security of the region. The Danish Foreign Minister stated that more can be done within the existing framework of the defense agreement between the two countries and invited the U.S. to collaborate on this effort. Rasmussen noted that both Denmark and the U.S. have been relying on the assumption that the Arctic should be a low-changing area, but emphasized that this mindset is no longer viable.
Rasmussen highlighted Denmark’s recent billion-dollar investment in Arctic security, which includes providing more drones, ships, and personnel in the area. He also emphasized that Greenland is a part of NATO, welcoming all allies to play a greater role in the Arctic. While noting that both countries had previously been “harvesting the peace dividend” in the region, Rasmussen stated that it is time to step up efforts to ensure the security and stability of the Arctic.
The Danish Foreign Minister reassured that Denmark is committed to shouldering its share of responsibility in the Arctic region and called for a collaborative approach with allies to address the changing dynamics in the area. Rasmussen acknowledged the need for increased focus on Arctic security and expressed Denmark’s readiness to play an active role in addressing these challenges. Overall, Denmark’s response to the Trump administration’s criticisms reflects a commitment to maintaining a strong and cooperative relationship with the United States while also prioritizing the security of Greenland and the Arctic region.
