‘Not the way you discuss to allies’, Danish FM tells the US over Greenland
Denmark’s overseas minister has chided United States President Donald Trump’s administration for its “tone” in criticising Denmark over its function in Greenland, saying his nation is already investing extra into Arctic safety and stays open to additional cooperation with the US.
International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen made the sharp remarks in a video posted to social media on Saturday, after US Vice President JD Vance’s go to to the strategic island.
“Many accusations and plenty of allegations have been made. And naturally we’re open to criticism,” Rasmussen mentioned, talking in English.
“However let me be utterly sincere: we don’t recognize the tone through which it’s being delivered. This isn’t the way you communicate to your shut allies. And I nonetheless contemplate Denmark and america to be shut allies.”
On Friday, Vance, on a fleeting go to, accused Denmark of failing to maintain Greenland protected and projected that the US would higher shield the semi-autonomous Danish territory that Trump covets and has pressed to take over.
“Our message to Denmark may be very easy: You haven’t finished a very good job by the individuals of Greenland,” Vance mentioned on Friday. “You have got underinvested within the individuals of Greenland, and you’ve got underinvested within the safety structure of this unbelievable, lovely landmass stuffed with unbelievable individuals. That has to alter.”
The US has urged that each Russia and China have strategic designs on Greenland.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen additionally pushed again on Vance’s declare that Denmark isn’t doing sufficient for defence within the Arctic, calling her nation “a very good and robust ally”.
“For a few years, now we have stood by the Individuals in very troublesome conditions,” she mentioned, referring to Danish fight deployments alongside US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the place dozens of Danes had been killed.
“The Vice President’s reference to Denmark isn’t correct,” she added.
Vance was accompanied by his spouse Usha, Nationwide Safety Advisor Mike Waltz and his spouse, Vitality Secretary Chris Wright, Utah Senator Mike Lee and former Homeland Safety Advisor Julia Nesheiwat, who’s Waltz’s spouse.
The vice chairman burdened that the US has “no choice” however to take a big place to make sure the safety of the island as he inspired a push in Greenland for independence from Denmark.
“I feel that they finally will associate with america,” Vance mentioned. “We may make them way more safe. We may do much more safety. And I feel they’d fare loads higher economically as properly.”
Greenland has its say
The response by members of Greenland’s parliament and its residents to Trump’s push to annex the island has been a livid one.
Greenlandic legislators on Thursday agreed to type a brand new authorities, banding collectively to withstand Trump’s overtures. 4 of the 5 events elected to Greenland’s parliament earlier this month have agreed to type a coalition that may have 23 of 31 seats within the legislature.
Incoming Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen advised a information convention on Friday that the territory wanted unity presently.
“It is extremely essential that we put apart our disagreements and variations … as a result of solely on this method will we be capable of address the heavy strain we’re uncovered to from exterior,” he mentioned.
The Danish overseas minister, in his remarks, was at pains to notice that his nation has elevated its personal funding into Arctic defence.
In January, Denmark introduced 14.6 billion Danish kroner ($2.1bn) in monetary commitments for Arctic safety masking three new naval vessels, long-range drones and satellites.
1951 US-Denmark defence settlement
In his video, Rasmussen additionally cited the 1951 defence settlement between Denmark and the US. Since 1945, the US navy presence in Greenland has decreased from hundreds of troopers over 17 bases and installations on the island, he mentioned, to the distant Pituffik House Base within the northwest with some 200 troopers.
The 1951 settlement “presents ample alternative for america to have a a lot stronger navy presence in Greenland”, the overseas minister mentioned. “If that’s what you would like, then allow us to talk about it.”
A whole bunch of protesters demonstrated on Saturday exterior the US embassy within the Danish capital Copenhagen, with some lifting indicators saying “again off, USA,” Danish broadcaster TV2 reported.
Trump argues that the US wants the huge Arctic island for nationwide and worldwide safety and has not dominated out the usage of drive to safe it.
“We aren’t speaking about peace for america. We’re speaking about world peace. We’re speaking about worldwide safety,” Trump claimed to reporters on the White Home on Friday.
Requested concerning the potential use of drive to annex the territory, Vance burdened the US administration didn’t suppose that “is ever going to be obligatory”.
