Denmark has said it did not like the "tone" of US Vice President JD Vance comments that Copenhagen had not done enough for Greenland during a visit to the strategically placed, resource-rich Danish territory coveted by US President Donald Trump.
"We are open to criticisms, but let me be completely honest, we do not appreciate the tone in which it's being delivered," Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on X, formerly Twitter.
"This is not how you speak to your close allies, and I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies," he said.
Mr Vance made his comments during a trip to the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, viewed by both Denmark and Greenland as a provocation.
Dear American friends.
— Lars Løkke Rasmussen (@larsloekke) March 28, 2025
We agree that status quo in the Artcic is not an option.
So let's talk about how we can fix it - together.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen
Danish Foreign Minister pic.twitter.com/vQrcUP7cwi
"Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland," Mr Vance told a press conference.
"You have under-invested in the people of Greenland and you have under-invested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass," he added.
Mr Trump claims that the US needs the vast Arctic island for national and international security and has refused to rule out the use of force to secure it.
"We are not talking about peace for the United States. We are talking about world peace. We are talking about international security," Mr Trump claimed to reporters at the White House on Friday.
Asked about the potential use of force, Mr Vance stressed the US administration did not think that "is ever going to be necessary".
"We think this makes sense and because we think the people of Greenland are rational and good, we think we're going to be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump-style, to ensure the security of this territory but also the United States of America," Mr Vance said.
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will visit Greenland on 2 - 4 April for talks with the semi-autonomous territory's new government, she said.
"I look forward to continuing the close and trusting cooperation between Greenland and Denmark," Ms Frederiksen said in a statement.
Before announcing her visit to Greenland, Mr Frederiksen had earlier hit back at Mr Vance.
"For many years, we have stood by the Americans in very difficult situations," she said, referring to Danish combat deployments alongside American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The Vice President's reference to Denmark is not accurate," she added.
Mr Vance was accompanied by his wife Usha, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Utah senator Mike Lee and former homeland security advisor Julia Nesheiwat, who is Mr Waltz's wife.
Danish and Greenlandic officials, backed by the European Union, have insisted that the US will not obtain Greenland.
Ms Frederiksen also condemned the US decision to visit the Arctic island uninvited as "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland and Denmark.
A majority of Greenlanders opposes US annexation, according to a January poll.
The Pituffik base is an essential part of US missile defence infrastructure, its location in the Arctic putting it on the shortest route for missiles fired from Russia at the United States.
Known as Thule Air Base until 2023, it served as a warning post for possible attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
It is also a strategic location for air and submarine surveillance.
In January, Denmark said it would allocate almost €2 billion to beef up its presence in the Arctic and north Atlantic, acquiring specialised vessels and surveillance equipment.
Greenland is home to 57,000 people, most of them Inuits.
It is believed to hold massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, although oil and uranium exploration are banned.
Mr Trump's desire to take over the territory has been categorically rejected by Greenlanders, their politicians and Danish officials.
While all of Greenland's political parties are in favour of independence, none of them support the idea of becoming part of the United States.
A new broad four-party coalition government was announced in Greenland just hours before the US delegation's arrival, following elections earlier this month.
Incoming Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory needed unity at this time.
"It is very important that we put aside our disagreements and differences... because only in this way will we be able to cope with the heavy pressure we are exposed to from outside," he said.
