Denmark on Friday found itself in President Donald Trump’s crosshairs. Trump appears to be honing in on what his administration is now arguing is a failure by Copenhagen to protect Greenland from Russian and Chinese aggression.   

Speaking to American soldiers from the U.S.’s Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland, Vice President Vance said, “Denmark hasn’t done a good job at keeping Greenland safe.”

“What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark,” Vance explained in a more toned-down approach from Trump’s previous statements. “And then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.”

Vice President JD Vance (at the lectern) is applauded after speaking at the US military’s Pituffik Space Base on March 28, 2025, in Pituffik, Greenland. The itinerary for the visit was scaled back after a plan for a more extensive trip drew criticism from officials in Greenland and Denmark, which controls foreign and defense policy of the semiautonomous territory.  (Photo by Jim Watson – Pool / Getty Images)

Vance said he wants Greenland to have American weapons, not Chinese weapons, and that he believes a partnership could be secured once the arctic nation votes for independence from Denmark.

While some in Greenland have said they would be interested in securing a partnership with Washington that could include access to fishing lanes in exchange for defense guarantees, Trump has signaled that he may be more interested in the nation’s rare earth minerals and energy opportunities. 

However, Greenland, which is environmentally conscious, has previously blocked the EU from making deals to access those coveted resources. 

Vice President JD Vance arrives to board Air Force Two after touring the U.S. military’s Pituffik Space Base on March 28, 2025, in Pituffik, Greenland. The itinerary for the visit was scaled back after a plan for a more extensive trip drew criticism from officials in Greenland and Denmark, which controls foreign and defense policy of the semiautonomous territory.  (Photo by Jim Watson – Pool / Getty Images)

“When the President says we’ve got to have Greenland, he’s saying this island is not safe,” Vance said. “A lot of people are interested in it. A lot of people are making a play. 

“Our message is very simple: Yes, the people of Greenland are going to have self-determination,” he continued. “We hope that they choose to partner with the United States.

“We’re the only nation on earth that will respect their sovereignty and respect their security, because their security is very much our security,” Vance said.