The American vice president, JD Vance, has suggested this Friday from the Pituffik spatial base in Greenland that the United States will negotiate the adhesion of the territory once it becomes independent of Denmark through a self -determination referendum.
“What we believe will happen is that the Greenlanders will choose, through self -determination, become independent of Denmark, and then we will have conversations with the people of Greenland from there. I think that talking about something too distant in the future is too premature,” he said.
Vance has assured before the US troops that Denmark “has failed” in its mission of protecting Greenland. “This base is less safe than 30, 40 years ago because some of our allies have not lived up,” he said.
“There have been many criticisms from Denmark, many attacks against the Trump administration, against the president, against me and other members of our administration for saying the obvious: that Denmark has not done a good job to maintain the security of Greenland,” he added.
In this regard, he has indicated that “recognizing that there have been important security alliances in the past does not imply” that “disagreements” with the allies cannot be had. “There is no need to intimidate, obfusca or confuse the matter,” he said.
Asked about the aspirations of the US President, Donald Trump, to annex Greenland by force, Vance has stressed that the tycoon has been clear in which the United States “respects the self -determination of the people of Greenland.”
“(President Donald Trump) believes absolutely that Greenland is an important part of security, not only from the United States, but of the world and, of course, also of the people of Greenland,” he said, although he has stated that “it would be much better” that the territory was “under the umbrella” of Washington.
Vance has reiterated that the allies “have not followed the rhythm” given the growing interests of China and Russia in the region. “Denmark has not followed the pace in dedicating the necessary resources to maintain this basis, to maintain our troops and, in my opinion, to keep the people of Greenland safe from many very aggressive incursions of Russia, China and other nations,” he said.
Thus, the vice president has stated that the United States should be “the leader in the Arctic.” “We know that, if it is not, other nations will cover the emptiness that we have left,” he argued, alluding to invest “more resources” in the territory.