In a speech at a U.S. military base in Greenland, Vice President JD Vance called Friday for an American partnership with the people of Greenland to counteract Russian and Chinese influence in the region.
The Vice President chose as his backdrop the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, where the Space Force has missile-warning and defense systems, as well as space-surveillance sensors for tracking objects in space. He cited the base as an example of Greenland’s strategic importance.
.@VP: "We can't just bury our head in the sand — or, in Greenland, bury our head in the snow — and pretend that the Chinese are not interested in this very large landmass. We know that they are." pic.twitter.com/2qzgOhL2pQ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 28, 2025
“If a missile was fired from an enemy country or an enemy submarine into the United States, it is the people here before us who would give notice to our brave men and women further south in the United States to let people know what was coming and, God willing, to try to shoot it down and prepare for it.”
Vance also drew attention to Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic, which he says justifies the need for increased U.S. attention to Greenland.
“We know that Russia and China and other nations are taking an extraordinary interest in Arctic passageways, in Arctic naval routes, and indeed in the minerals of the Arctic territories,” he said.
“We need to ensure that America is leading in the Arctic, because we know if America doesn’t, other nations will fill the gap where we fall behind.”
Denmark's leadership has failed the people of Greenland, and their bullying tactics won't change that.
Investment in Greenland's security is in America's best interest, and it will continue under President Trump. pic.twitter.com/ZpGlnDXCRh
— Vice President JD Vance (@VP) March 28, 2025
Vance also accused Denmark of neglecting the welfare of Greenland and not allowing it to have self-determination, thereby threatening America’s interests.
“If Greenland doesn’t have self-determination, if the people of Greenland have their future controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, it’s not going to make their lives better off, and most importantly, it’s going to make American and … world security much, much weaker.”
.@VP: "Yes, the people of Greenland are going to have self-determination. We hope that they choose to partner with the United States because we're the only nation on Earth that will respect their sovereignty and respect their security because their security is very much our… pic.twitter.com/PREoVdiGIy
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 28, 2025