US Vice President JD Vance stated on Friday that Denmark has "underinvested" in Greenland’s security and insisted that Denmark alter its approach, as President Donald Trump continues to push for U.S. control over the Danish territory. These sharp remarks were made during Vance’s visit to U.S. troops stationed at Pituffik Space Base on the resource-rich and strategically significant island. Accompanied by his wife and other senior U.S. officials, Vance’s trip was ultimately scaled back following backlash from Greenlanders and Danes who had not been consulted about the initial itinerary. Vance arrives at US military base in Greenland following uproar over uninvited visit “Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not served the people of Greenland well,” Vance said. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and in the security framework of this remarkable, beautiful landmass filled with extraordinary individuals. That must change.” Vance asserted that the U.S. has “no option” but to take a prominent role in ensuring Greenland’s security, while also supporting the island’s movement towards independence from Denmark. “I believe they will ultimately align with the United States,” Vance stated. “We could make them significantly more secure. We could offer much stronger protection. And I think they would benefit economically as well.” However, reactions from Greenland’s parliament members and citizens suggest otherwise, as widespread outrage erupted over the Trump administration’s efforts to annex the Arctic island. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected Vance’s assertion that Denmark was failing in Arctic defense, emphasising that Denmark remains “a good and strong ally.” Upon arrival, Vance briefly addressed U.S. troops at the base and had lunch with them alongside his wife, reaffirming the Trump administration’s deep interest in “Arctic security.” His entourage—including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Utah Senator Mike Lee—also received briefings from military officials. The delegation landed at the remote base, located 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) north of the Arctic Circle, where temperatures were minus-3 degrees F (minus-19 degrees C). “It’s cold as s—- here. Nobody told me,” Vance remarked, eliciting laughter. The modified trip to Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, comes amid deteriorating U.S.-Denmark relations, despite Denmark’s longstanding status as a U.S. ally and NATO member. Trump has repeatedly proposed that the U.S. should assume control of Greenland in some capacity. During his concluding remarks, Vance emphasised that military intervention would not be necessary, advocating instead for an expanded American presence on the island. “Because we believe the people of Greenland are rational and reasonable, we anticipate that we’ll need to negotiate a deal—Trump-style—to ensure both the security of this territory and that of the United States,” Vance stated, while acknowledging Greenlanders’ right to determine their own future. In Washington, Trump reaffirmed on Friday that the U.S. “needs Greenland for international security.” Speaking to reporters shortly after Vance’s arrival, Trump pointed to growing Chinese and Russian interests in the Arctic, where melting ice has opened new maritime routes. “Greenland is crucial to global peace,” Trump declared. “I think Denmark understands this, and so does the European Union. And if they don’t, we will have to make it clear to them.” Following Vance’s speech, Frederiksen countered that Denmark is already strengthening its defense capabilities in the Arctic, including the deployment of new Arctic ships and long-range drones. JD Vance to visit Greenland with wife She also stressed that, as Greenland is part of NATO, protecting the Arctic is a collective responsibility. Referring to Denmark’s commitment to the U.S. in its war on terror, she criticised Vance’s remarks as “an unfair characterisation” of Denmark’s efforts. Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Møller Sørensen, expressed gratitude to Vance “for taking a closer look at Arctic security” and affirmed that both nations agree on the need for further measures. “Greenland & Denmark share a mutual interest in strengthening our already exceptionally close ties with our friend & ally,” Sørensen posted on social media. Ahead of Vance’s arrival, four out of the five political parties in Greenland’s newly elected parliament signed an agreement to form a broad-based coalition government. This alliance was formed in direct response to Trump’s ambitions regarding the territory. “We are facing a time when our population is under pressure,” prime minister-designate Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated before signing the agreement, which was met with applause and cheers in Nuuk. “We must remain united. Together, we are strongest,” Greenland’s broadcaster KNR reported. In an Instagram post, Frederiksen congratulated Nielsen and his incoming government, expressing her eagerness for close cooperation “in an unnecessarily conflict-filled time.” Frederiksen had earlier criticised the planned U.S. visit, initially scheduled to last three days, saying it placed “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland. While Denmark remains committed to working with the U.S. on security matters, she insisted that Greenland belongs to its people. Originally, Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, had planned a solo trip to Sisimiut to attend the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race. The vice president later announced that he would join her, but after protests from Greenland and Denmark, the itinerary was altered again to limit the visit to a single day at the military base. Residents of Nuuk, located approximately 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) south of Pituffik, voiced concerns about Vance’s visit and the U.S. interest in their homeland. Cora Høy, 22, commented that while Vance was “welcome to visit,” Greenland was “not for sale.” She added, “It’s unusual for Greenland to receive this level of attention. Every day now seems to be about (Trump), and I just want a break from it.” “It’s all quite overwhelming. Naturally, the population is unsettled,” said 30-year-old Inuk Kristensen. “I share the same sentiment as everyone else: This is not the right way to handle things. You don’t just show up and announce you want to buy the place.” As a strategic gateway to the Arctic and the North Atlantic approaches to North America, Greenland holds significant geopolitical value, particularly as China and Russia seek access to its waterways and natural resources. “We must ensure that America leads in the Arctic, because if we don’t, other nations will take advantage of the gaps we leave behind,” Vance asserted.

US Vice President JD Vance announced he will join his wife on a trip to Greenland this Friday, hinting in a video posted on Tuesday that global security is at stake. “We’re going to check out how things are going there,” Vance stated in the video. “Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think it’s important for the security of the entire world.” Usha Vance to visit Greenland amid Trump's US takeover talks President Donald Trump caused tension in Europe when he suggested the U.S. should have control over Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark rich in minerals. Greenland’s strategic value lies in its position as a gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic, with both China and Russia seeking access to its waters and natural resources. The vice president’s decision to visit a U.S. military base in Greenland avoids the diplomatic issue of sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation. However, Vance has also been critical of long-time European allies for depending on U.S. military support, antagonising partners in ways that have raised concerns about America’s reliability. Before the vice president’s announcement, discontent had been growing in Greenland and Denmark. The Greenland government posted on Facebook Monday evening that it had “not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the situation “unacceptable pressure” during an interview on Tuesday. The office of second lady Usha Vance confirmed Sunday that she would travel to Greenland on Thursday and return on Saturday. Usha and one of their children had planned to explore Greenland’s historic sites and learn about its culture, but her husband’s involvement has shifted the focus of the trip to national security. Vance explained that he didn’t want his wife to “have all that fun by herself,” adding that he would visit a Space Force outpost on Greenland’s northwest coast. He noted that other countries have also posed threats to Greenland, the U.S., and Canada. Initially, Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, was listed as part of the U.S. delegation to Greenland, but his name was removed after it was revealed that he had mistakenly added a journalist to a secure messaging app conversation about a military strike in Yemen. JD Vance's family moved to undisclosed location amid backlash Vance stated that leaders in Denmark and North America had “ignored” Greenland for “far too long.” Instead of attending the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut, which Usha Vance had planned to visit, the trip will now focus on a visit to Pituffik Space Base. However, Dwayne Ryan Menezes, founder of the Polar Research & Policy Initiative, warned that the Trump administration’s “intimidation” of Greenland could backfire. He argued that if Trump recognized Greenland’s strategic significance, he would understand that alienating allies undermines U.S. long-term interests. Despite growing objections from Greenland and Denmark, Vance is allowed to visit the space base under a 1951 agreement between the U.S. and Denmark regarding the defense of Greenland. Marc Jacobsen, a professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, pointed out that the controversy stems from the timing of the visit, especially since Greenland currently lacks a functioning government. During his first term, Trump proposed purchasing Greenland, which Denmark, a NATO ally, rejected, as did the people of Greenland. Trump’s return to the White House has been marked by his desire for territorial expansion, including efforts to make Canada the 51st U.S. state and to regain control of the Panama Canal. He has also suggested that U.S. interests could take over the war-torn Gaza Strip from Israel and turn it into a luxury.

Protesters in the US gathered along a road in Vermont that Vice-President JD Vance was expected to drive down after his heated exchange with President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Holding pro-Ukraine signs, they positioned themselves on the route in Waitsfield, which Vance and his family were set to take on their way to a skiing trip, reports BBC. How Zelensky’s outfit choice may have sparked Oval Office dispute Reports from US media indicated that the Vance family relocated to an undisclosed location from their original ski resort due to the demonstrations. Hundreds of people also assembled in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston on Saturday to show their support for Ukraine, following the tense confrontation in the Oval Office the day before. The intense scenes in the Oval Office saw Vance accuse President Zelensky of disrespecting the US, while Trump clashed with the Ukrainian leader, urging him to negotiate with Russia "or we are out" and accusing him of "gambling with World War Three." A protest had been organised earlier in the week in Waitsfield against the Trump-Vance administration, before the clash with Zelensky, but many of the signs reflected the row and Russia’s war with Ukraine, the report said. Judy Daly from Indivisible Mad River Valley, the group behind the protest, commented to Vermont Public Radio, "I think [Friday's] performance at the White House has probably galvanised even more people to come out today." Protester Cori Giroux added, "[Vance] crossed the line." Ahead of the Vance family's arrival, Vermont Governor Phil Scott urged people to "be respectful." Scott, a Republican who didn’t support Trump, stated, "I welcome the vice-president and his family to Vermont and hope they enjoy their weekend here. It’s no surprise they chose Vermont, we’ve had a lot of snow this winter, which has been good for our economy." He continued, "I hope Vermonters remember the vice-president is here on a family trip with his young children, and while we may not always agree, we should be respectful. Please join me in welcoming them to Vermont and hoping they have an opportunity to experience what makes our state, and Vermonters, so special." Vance, who has three young children with his wife Usha, has not commented publicly on the protests. Counter-protesters supporting Trump and Vance were also reportedly present in Waitsfield, added the report. In a separate development, demonstrators gathered outside Tesla stores across the US on Saturday to protest Elon Musk's efforts to cut government spending. Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, has been appointed by Trump to oversee the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as Doge. After the White House meeting, Zelensky travelled to the UK, where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. On Sunday, he joined European leaders and Canada's Justin Trudeau in London for a summit to discuss strategies for ending the war in Ukraine and ensuring Europe’s security. Ukrainians back Zelenskyy as defender after Oval incident Ahead of the summit, Starmer stated that the UK and France would work with Ukraine on a plan to end the conflict with Russia, which would then be discussed with the United States. He explained to the BBC that his main goal at this time was to act as a "bridge" between the two leaders, the report also said. When asked about his reaction to the dispute in the White House, Starmer downplayed the incident, acknowledging, "nobody wants to see that," and admitting he felt "uncomfortable."