London – Denmark is open to discussions with the United States on how to “repair” the status quo in Greenland, said the country’s foreign minister, after vice-president JD Vance accused Copenhagen of not protecting the Arctic island during a controversial visit on Friday.
In an article in X addressed to “Dear American Friends” in Denmark on Friday evening, the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, said his nation is suitable that the “status quo” in the Arctic “was not an option”.
“So let’s talk about how we can repair it – together,” wrote Rasmussen.
In a video statement, Rasmussen has recognized the “many accusations and many allegations” about Greenland. “Of course, we are open to criticism, but let me be completely honest – we don’t like the tone in which it is delivered.”
Vice-president JD Vance talks about the Pituffik space base of the American army in Greenland, March 28, 2025.
Jim Watson / Pool / AFP via Getty Images
“This is not how you speak to your nearby allies,” continued Rasmussen, “and I still consider Denmark and the United States as close allies.”
Danish and Grora leaders rejected Trump’s desire to take control of Greenland. They simultaneously criticized its perceived overcoming while seeking to mitigate tensions by proposing more in -depth military and economic cooperation on the Arctic Earth.
“We respect that the United States needs a greater military presence in Greenland, as Vice -President Vance mentioned this evening. We – Denmark and Greenland – are very open to discuss it with you,” said Rasmussen in his statement.
The existing bilateral defense agreement – signed in 1951 – “offers many opportunities to have a much stronger military presence in Greenland,” said Rasmussen. “If that’s what you want, then discuss it.”
Traditional housing in overtime is visible from the Myggedalen point of view, March 28, 2025 in Nuuk, Greenland.
Images Leon Neal / Getty
President Donald Trump has repeatedly – on several occasions in his first mandate and since his return to functions for his second – has expressed his ambition to take control of the island. Rasmussen’s call for dialogue came shortly after Vance ended his visit to Greenland, which is an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark.
Addressing members of the American service at the American space base of Pituffik on the northwest coast of Greenland, Vance said: “Well, the president said that we must have Greenland. And I think we must be more serious about the security of Greenland.”
“We can’t just ignore this place,” he continued. “We cannot just ignore the president’s desires.”
Vance said that Trump’s administration “respects the self -determination of the people of Greenland”, but suggested that the island would be safer under the American security umbrella.
Greenland is already covered by the collective defense clause of article 5 which underlies NATO, of which Denmark and the United States are members.
President Donald Trump speaks in the oval office during a White House swearing ceremony on March 28, 2025 in Washington.
Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images
“Yes, residents of Greenland will have self -determination,” said Vance. “We hope they choose to join in the United States because we are the only nation on Earth that will respect their sovereignty and respect their security – because their security is really our security.”
Vance accused Denmark of not having provided adequate security against “very aggressive incursions of Russia, China and other nations”.
“Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the inhabitants of Greenland. You have subinvested in the inhabitants of Greenland, and you have under-infringement of the safety architecture of this beautiful and magnificent land mass filled with incredible people. This must change,” he said.
Rasmussen said that Denmark and the United States had done too little in the Arctic since the end of the Cold War. “We all acted by assuming that the Arctic was and should be a low tension zone, but this time is over,” he said. “The status quo is not an AM option.”
Trump has repeatedly expressed his ambition to acquire Greenland, despite ferocious criticism from the leaders of Greenland, Denmark and Europe. He seems little support among the Greenlanders for his proposal. A January survey of Verian, commissioned by the Danish newspaper Berlingske, showed that only 6% of Greenlanders are favorable to be part of the United States, with 9% undecided.
Vice-president JD Vance and the second Lady Usha Vance Board Air Force Two after visiting the Pituffik space in the US military in Greenland on March 28, 2025.
Jim Watson / Pool / AFP via Getty Images
The island is in a strategic position in front of the north coast of Russia through the Arctic Ocean and near two shipping lanes-the northeast and northwest passages. It is also believed that Greenland is home to a large amount of precious mineral deposits. Shipping routes and minerals should become more accessible because the global warming climate causes the sea ice more.
“We must have Greenland. It’s not a question of: do you think we can do without it? We can’t,” Trump said in the oval office on Friday. “If you are looking at Greenland at the moment, if you are looking at the sailors, you have Chinese and Russian ships everywhere, and we will not be able to do it.”
“We are not counting on Denmark or someone else to take care of this situation,” he added. “And we are not talking about peace for the United States.”
“Greenland is very important for world peace – not us, peace of the world,” said the president. “And I think Denmark understands it. I think the European Union understands it. And if they don’t do so, we will have to explain to them.”
Hannah Demissie, Molly Nagle and Michelle Stoddart from ABC News to this report.
