US vice president JD Vance and his wife are visiting the US Space Force outpost in Greenland, today. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has repeated his desire for US control of Greenland. Follow the latest here.
Friday 28 March 2025 18:52, UK
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Vance is then asked about Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US could use military force to take control of Greenland if necessary.
He ostensibly seeks to play down the potential for such a development – but, notably, declines to rule it out.
“The president has said clearly he doesn’t think that military force is going to be necessary, but he absolutely believes that Greenland is an important part of the security, not just of the United States, but of the world and, of course, the people of Greenland, too,” he says.
Asked if plans have been drafted to use military force to take over Greenland, he indicates the White House planned to wait for the people of the territory to vote for self-determination before acting.
“Well, what the president has said, like, is that we need to have more of a position in Greenland,” he says.
“We need it, again, for the safety of the American people and what we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose through self-determination to become independent of Denmark, and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.
“So, I think that talking about anything too far in the future is way too premature. We do not think that military force is ever going to be necessary.
“We think this makes sense. And because we think the people of Greenland are rational and good, we think we’re going to be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump style, to ensure the security of this territory, but also the United States of America.”
In January, when asked whether he would rule out the use of military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, which he has also expressed a desire to claim for the US, Trump said: “I’m not going to commit to that. It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country. We need Greenland for national security purposes.”
For context: Greenland’s centre right opposition party won the most votes in the territory’s elections this month, in a development that was be seen as a rejection of Trump’s interference in the island’s politics.
The Demokraatit party – which favours a slow move towards independence from Denmark – won 30% of the vote.
The vice president is now asked about the Signal security breach, which has been dominating the headlines this week.
He says “it is in the interest of the US to kill terrorists who prevent navigation in the Red Sea”.
“But we have to make sure we do it right,” he says.
“What that link revealed is private communication between the president’s advisers about how best to prepare the American people and about the right timing.
“What I saw in that chat is that sometimes we all agree and sometimes we disagree but we all have to have an honest conversation amongst ourselves and the president.
“I support the president’s decision to strike the Houthis.”
He also reiterates that he and Trump are “standing behind our entire national security team”.
Asked if there are plans for the US to expand its military presence in Greenland, JD Vance says there are no immediate plans.
But there are general objectives that will require the US to invest in more resources in Greenland.
“That’s necessary because there has been an expansion of the security footprint of Russia and China,” he says.
“They are doing what is in their interest. The US must do what is in our interest which is make sure Greenland is safe.”
He says the “US cannot bury its head in the sand and pretend the Chinese are not interested in this very large land mass”.
“We know they are,” he adds.
He says there is Russian and Chinese “encroachment in Greenland”.
He goes on to launch into a criticism of Denmark and says the “surrounding area is less safe than it was around 40 years ago because allies have not kept up”.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple. You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” he says.
“You’ve underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people.
“That has to change. And because it hasn’t changed, this is why President Trump’s policy in Greenland is what it is.”
The vice president says the US argument is “very simple”.
“Our argument is not with the people of Greenland who I think are incredible. Our argument is with the leadership of Denmark who have underestimated in Greenland,” he adds.
It should be noted, Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
US vice president JD Vance is up at the podium and is greeted with a brief chant of “USA!”, which then peters out somewhat awkwardly.
He says “a lot of Americans wonder why Greenland matter so much” and why the mission of the US base there matters.
“If a missile was fired from an enemy country into the US, it is people here before us who would give notice to out brave men and women further south in the US to let them know what was coming.”
He says Russia and China are taking an interest in Arctic passages.
“We need to ensure that America is leading in the Arctic,” he adds.
For context: As previously stated, while Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly cited US security concerns as the driving force behind the effort to take control of Greenland, analysts have suggested their real motivation is the territory’s vast mineral wealth.
While we wait for JD Vance to speak, here are a few images of the vice president at the Pittufik airbase today.
Soon after arriving, Vance briefly addressed US troops stationed at the base as he and his wife Usha sat down to lunch with them.
He also said the administration of Donald Trump was very interested in “Arctic security”.
We’re expecting US vice president JD Vance to begin speaking shortly.
Watch live in the stream above and follow the latest updates here.
After arriving at the US military base in Greenland today, JD Vance confirmed US interest in Greenland would be discussed.
“We have some interest in Greenland from the Trump administration, so we’re gonna talk a little bit about that with our friends in the media,” he said.
He added that Donald Trump was “interested in Arctic security” and it was a “big issue”
“It’s only gonna get bigger over the coming decades,” he said.
While Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly cited US security concerns as their motivation to take control of Greenland, analysts have suggested their real incentive is the territory’s vast mineral wealth.
On his first impressions on Greenland, Vance added: “It’s cold as shit here.”
By Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor
Two events this week will give Greenland and friends in Europe a juddering sense of alarm.
From the West, the US vice president JD Vance is on his way, despatched by a president openly talking of annexation.
From the East, a speech from a Russian leader hinting at carving up the Arctic and its vast mineral wealth with Moscow’s new friends in Washington.
In a closely-watched speech, Vladimir Putin seemed to give Trump’s plans to seize Greenland the green light.
They were “serious”, he said, and “have deep historical roots”.
Kremlin officials went further, saying Russia was open to cooperating with America to exploit the Arctic with “joint investment”.
The Arctic is a huge prize.
Why does Trump want Greenland?
Russia is well-placed to exploit it, with bases and ports ringing the Arctic Circle.
Putin, though, warned “NATO countries in general are increasingly designating the Far North as a springboard for possible conflicts”.
This would appear to be a warning to European nations to back off.
The threat of Russia and America jointly exploiting the Arctic in a great powers carve up is yet another challenge for Europe in this new Trumpian world order.
And Greenland is caught in the middle.
The true motivation
Donald Trump has said he thinks the American annexation of Greenland “will happen”.
He said so with breezy nonchalance in front of NATO’s chief in the White House as if taking another alliance member’s territory was entirely normal.
Astonishingly, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte did not push back at the idea.
Both Trump and his vice president say America needs Greenland for security. This seems disingenuous.
There are no hostile fleets circling the Arctic territory, whatever they claim.
Besides, America already has a military base there and could ask to build more.
Vance also says Denmark has neglected Greenland. Denmark actually subsidises the territory to the tune of £480m a year.
In reality, what the Trump administration seeks in Greenland is what it seems to seek in Ukraine. Mineral wealth.
‘Gangster shakedown’
When we visited this month, Greenlanders told Sky News Trump’s threats are little more than a gangster shakedown. A menacing threat designed to extract material gain.
There is no appetite for an American takeover among Greenlanders.
US officials were reportedly going door to door this week asking if anyone would like to meet the US second lady. No one said yes.
The Vances have had to downscale their visit and will now only be going to the US base at Pittufik.
But the Trump administration is determined, it seems, one way or another to acquire more territory – and Greenland seems top of the list.
And its president may have been persuaded by Vladimir Putin it is in his best interests to share the world with Russia, whatever that means for America’s allies.
That is a challenge they will need to meet.
The remote Pituffik Space Base is the US Department of Defence’s northernmost installation.
The base was built following a 1951 defence agreement between Denmark and the US. It supports missile warning, missile defence and space surveillance operations for the US and NATO.
The Pituffik base is located about 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle and 947 miles south of the North Pole.
The base is locked in by ice for nine months of the year, but its airfield remains open all year round. It is in constant darkness from November to February and constant daylight from May to August.
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