Vice President J.D. Vance stated on Friday that the United States is unlikely to use military force in President Donald Trump’s pursuit of acquiring Greenland. Speaking from Pituffik Space Base, a key American military installation in northwestern Greenland, Vance emphasized that the U.S. respects the island’s sovereignty despite Trump’s repeated assertions that the territory should belong to the United States.
“We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary,” Vance said in response to a question about potential military plans to take control of Greenland. “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.”
The comments come as Trump continues to argue that Greenland is crucial to U.S. security interests. His concerns range from Russia’s access to the Arctic to China’s increasing influence in the region.
“We need Greenland for international security. We have to have Greenland,” Trump said in remarks from the White House on Friday.
Vance, however, shifted some of the focus to Denmark’s role in securing Greenland, claiming that the Danish government has failed to adequately protect the strategically important territory.
“The Danes have not done their job in keeping this area safe,” Vance said.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has firmly resisted Trump’s interest in acquiring it. The Danish government has repeatedly stated that Greenland is not for sale, and officials in Copenhagen strongly criticized Vance’s visit.
Vance clarified that the U.S. has no plans to expand its military presence on the island and suggested that any changes in security arrangements would be coordinated with Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
“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,” he said.
Greenland’s Political Landscape
Greenland’s recent elections reflect little appetite for a quick break from Denmark. The Demokraatit party, which advocates a long-term path toward independence rather than an abrupt split, won the March election.
Public sentiment in Greenland appears largely against Trump’s proposal, and attitudes toward the U.S. among the island’s 57,000 residents have reached a low point.
This growing tension led to the White House canceling a planned “heritage” tour of Greenland. The visit, originally set for Second Lady Usha Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, was scrapped after officials in Nuuk and Copenhagen pushed back strongly. Greenlandic officials also showed little enthusiasm for hosting the American delegation.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen welcomed the White House’s decision to cancel the heritage tour, calling it a “positive” move that respected Greenlandic sentiment. However, he noted there was no objection to American officials visiting the Pituffik base, which has long been a U.S. military outpost.
U.S. Presence in Greenland
Vance’s visit to northern Greenland provided a rare opportunity to highlight the American military’s presence in one of the world’s harshest environments. Pituffik Space Base, located 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle, serves as a key front line in missile defense, early-warning systems, and space surveillance.
The vice president received an extensive briefing on Arctic security from military personnel stationed at the base. The extreme conditions became apparent upon his arrival, as temperatures hovered at minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit.
“It’s cold as s‑‑‑ here. Nobody told me,” Vance remarked after joining U.S. Space Force Guardians for lunch.
In addition to serious discussions on security, Vance was introduced to some of the unusual traditions upheld by service members at the base. One such tradition is the polar plunge, where participants dive into the frigid Arctic waters. Those who complete the challenge receive a certificate acknowledging their bravery—or as some jokingly call it, a “certificate for stupidity.”
Vance took the opportunity to share a lighthearted moment with the troops, joking about the challenge.
“And let it be known that this task of questionable sanity was accomplished despite near-freezing temperatures, the threat of collapsing icebergs, and lusty seals,” he quipped.
The Signal Chat Controversy
Vance’s trip to Greenland also took place against the backdrop of a controversy surrounding his involvement in a sensitive text chain. The vice president has come under scrutiny for participating in a Signal group chat in which officials discussed classified details about a planned military strike in Yemen.
The chat became a major scandal after it was revealed that a journalist had inadvertently been included in the group. Critics argue that the discussion may have put classified military information at risk.
Vance attempted to downplay the controversy, assuring reporters that an internal investigation is underway. However, he made it clear that no one would face termination over the incident.
“President Trump has said on Monday, on Tuesday, on Wednesday, on Thursday, and I’m the vice president saying it here on Friday, we are standing behind our entire national security team,” Vance stated.
The investigation’s findings are expected to be released “soon,” according to the vice president.
Tensions Over U.S.-Greenland Relations
The Trump administration’s push to establish greater U.S. influence in Greenland has generated friction with Denmark, which has historically controlled the island. In recent years, Washington has increased its diplomatic and economic outreach to Greenland, viewing it as a critical asset in Arctic geopolitics.
Despite these efforts, Greenlanders remain skeptical of Trump’s ambitions. Greenland’s economy and governance remain deeply tied to Denmark, and there is little indication that its population supports closer ties with the U.S. at the expense of its autonomy.
Trump’s repeated declarations that Greenland should be part of the United States have only fueled further resentment. His administration has previously floated ideas such as investing in infrastructure and economic development projects on the island, but these proposals have been met with mixed reactions.
With tensions between Copenhagen, Nuuk, and Washington continuing to simmer, Vance’s trip to Greenland was seen as a diplomatic attempt to balance Trump’s aggressive rhetoric with a more measured approach. However, his visit did little to quell the controversy surrounding the U.S. administration’s stance on Greenland’s future.
As Trump and his allies continue to push for greater U.S. influence in the Arctic, it remains to be seen how Greenland’s leadership and its people will respond. For now, Denmark remains firmly in control, and Greenlanders show little interest in Trump’s vision for the island’s future.