Vance delivers Trump's 'message' to US troops in Greenland

RT
Fri, 28 Mar 2025 23:57 UTC

© Jim Watson / Pool via AP

Vice President J.D. Vance arrives at the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, March 28, 2025

The vice president has defended the US commander-in-chief's plan to bring the "extremely vulnerable" Arctic island under American "protection"

US Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a forceful address to American service members at Pituffik Space Base in northwest Greenland on Friday, emphasizing the Trump administration's determination to expand its permanent foothold on the Arctic island.

The vice president's visit came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined Moscow's Arctic policy and warned that US annexation plans - dating back to the 1860s - should be taken seriously and not dismissed as "extravagant talk."

"I want to bring a message from President Trump," Vance told the assembled airmen and guardians. "He's grateful for your service, grateful for what you do up here... because the mission that you guys do is so important for the United States."

While insisting that there are no "immediate plans" to expand the US military presence with new bases, Vance announced that Washington would "absolutely" increase investment - including "investing in additional military icebreakers, investing in additional naval ships that will have a greater presence in Greenland."

The vice president stressed that the US supports Greenlandic "self-determination," but made it clear that Washington envisions a future in which the island ultimately aligns with America.

"I think that you'd be a lot better coming under the United States security umbrella than you have been under Denmark's," he said. Vance accused the Danish government of failing the people of Greenland, claiming the island is "extremely vulnerable right now."

We do not think that military force is ever going to be necessary... Because we think the people of Greenland are rational and good, we think we will be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump style, to ensure the security of this territory.

Vance justified the administration's increasingly assertive approach by pointing to rising Chinese and Russian activity in the region, describing Greenland as a geopolitical flashpoint in a new era of strategic competition.

"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. We need to ensure that America is leading in the Arctic - because we know that if America doesn't, other nations will fill the gap where we fall behind," he said.

He also highlighted Greenland's critical role in US missile early warning systems, describing the base's function as a vital shield "if a missile was fired from an enemy country."

In his Thursday speech, President Vladimir Putin countered the US narrative, stressing that "Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic," and emphasizing the region's "enormous potential" for joint economic development, resource extraction, infrastructure projects and transport.

"But at the same time, of course, we are concerned about the fact that NATO countries are increasingly often designating the Far North as a springboard for possible conflicts," Putin added, noting that Moscow is "closely monitoring developments in the region" and "modernizing military infrastructure facilities."

Comment: Greenland covers 2,166,086 km² and is home to 57,000 people. And given that Canada covers 9,984,670 km² just ahead of the US with its 9,833,520 km² it is clear that by adding it all up, "America" could become the greatest country on Earth, not just informally by controlling a few vassals, that have now shown signs of beginning to wean off, but in actual numbers! While such a comment is bordering to the sarcastic, it is nevertheless evident that the Greenland debacle does seem to have stirred the pot and might lead to increased instability. Time will show.

From the same source, there was earlier in March:

13 Mar, 2025 22:56
US annexation of Greenland 'will happen' and NATO could 'get involved' - Trump
The US has "quite a few soldiers" in the Arctic island and "maybe you'll see more," the president has said

President Donald Trump has told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that he would like the US-led military bloc to assist Washington in "securing" Greenland following talks in the Oval Office on Thursday.

Trump initially proposed buying the Danish autonomous territory during his first term in 2019 and has reignited the discussion after returning to office. Speaking at a recent joint session of Congress, he stated that the US will secure the island "one way or the other."

Asked by journalists on Thursday about his "vision on the potential annexation of Greenland," Trump stated, "I think it will happen."

"I didn't give it much thought before, but I'm sitting with a man who could be very instrumental. You know, Mark, we need that for international security," the US president said, turning to the NATO chief. "We have a lot of our favorite players cruising around the coasts, and we have to be careful. We'll be talking to you."

Rutte downplayed the proposal, saying with a chuckle, that "when it comes to Greenland, joining or not joining the US, I would leave that outside... this discussion, because I do not want to drag NATO into that."

However, the NATO chief went on to say that Trump is "totally right" in highlighting security concerns in the High North and the Arctic, given the increased presence of Russia and China in the region. He highlighted the importance of Western nations working "together on this under the US leadership."

Trump reiterated that the US "really needs" Greenland for both national and international security. "I think that's why NATO might have to get involved in a way."

The president noted that the US already has "a couple of bases" and hundreds of soldiers in Greenland, suggesting that "maybe you'll see more and more soldiers go there."

"What do you think about that, Pete?" Trump said, addressing Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth with a smile. "Don't answer that, Pete. Don't answer that question. But we have bases, and we have quite a few soldiers in Greenland."

Trump's statements drew a quick response from Greenland. The outgoing prime minister of the Danish autonomous territory, Mute Egede, took to Facebook to criticize the US president for entertaining "the thought of annexing us... Enough is enough."

Greenland has long been of strategic importance due to its location and untapped mineral resources. Covering 2.2 million square kilometers and home to a population of around 60,000, it also hosts a key US military base at Thule.