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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has cautiously rejected criticism from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who arrived in Greenland on Friday and accused Denmark of failing to invest adequately in the island’s security infrastructure.
Speaking at the U.S. Space Force base in Pituffik, Vance stated that Denmark had “not done its job properly in ensuring Greenland’s security.”
In response, Frederiksen acknowledged Vance’s “clear statement of respect” for Greenland’s sovereignty and right to self-determination but defended Denmark’s NATO commitments.
“Denmark is a good and strong ally to all NATO members. We face a threat from Russia and have significantly increased defense spending. For many years, we have stood side by side with the Americans in very difficult situations. Therefore, the Vice President’s description of Denmark is not accurate,” she wrote on Facebook.
However, the Danish PM agreed on the need for greater investment in Arctic security and emphasized that Denmark had already taken steps in that direction.
“Security in the Arctic is a concern for NATO and all Arctic members of the Alliance. We are ready—day and night—to cooperate with the Americans. But this cooperation must be based on the necessary international rules of engagement,” Frederiksen added.
On Friday, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance arrived in Greenland. Initially, only Usha Vance was scheduled to visit for a cultural-educational trip. However, after strong criticism from both Danish and Greenlandic officials, Vice President Vance decided to join her, shifting the visit’s focus to national security.
During his visit, Vance stated that the U.S. plans to increase investments in strengthening security around Greenland, though there are currently no plans to expand the U.S. military presence on the island.
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