Denmark and the United States have reached a new low after Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen publicly criticized Washington’s approach to Greenland, a self-ruling Danish territory. His statement came hours after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance visited an American military base in Greenland and made remarks questioning Denmark’s commitment to Arctic security.
In a two-minute video message released Friday night, Rasmussen directly addressed Americans, expressing frustration with Washington’s tone.
“Many accusations and many allegations have been made. And of course, we are open to criticism,” Rasmussen stated. “But let me be completely honest: We do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered.”
The diplomatic tension has been fueled by ongoing U.S. pressure regarding Greenland’s strategic importance. The discord dates back to former President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that the U.S. should acquire Greenland, including the suggestion of using military or economic pressure to achieve this goal. Trump’s comments, ranging from promises of economic prosperity for Greenlanders to more forceful rhetoric, have alarmed officials in both Denmark and Greenland, which have firmly rejected the idea.
During his visit to Pituffik Space Base, the sole remaining U.S. military installation in Greenland’s remote north, Vice President Vance reiterated past criticisms of Denmark’s Arctic defense strategy. “Greenlanders would fare better under the United States security umbrella than they have under Denmark’s,” Vance stated, citing threats from Russia and China.
By Friday night, Rasmussen had clearly had enough.
“This is not how you speak to your close allies,” he asserted. “And I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.”
While acknowledging the U.S. argument that “a greater military presence in Greenland is necessary,” Rasmussen signaled Denmark’s willingness to discuss security concerns openly. Historically, the U.S. maintained over a dozen military installations in Greenland, including a now-decommissioned nuclear-powered subterranean base. Today, Pituffik Space Base is the last operational American outpost on the island.
“We—Denmark and Greenland—are very much open to discussing this with you, with an open mind,” Rasmussen said, emphasizing the longstanding military cooperation between the two NATO allies.
However, he also acknowledged that geopolitical conditions in the Arctic were changing. “We have all been harvesting the peace dividend,” he noted. “We acted on the assumption that the Arctic was and should be a low-tension area. But that time is over.”
As tensions rise over Greenland’s strategic role in Arctic security, the diplomatic strain between Denmark and the United States signals a significant shift in regional geopolitics. Whether this disagreement leads to stronger cooperation or a deepening rift remains to be seen.
