Clear counter from Copenhagen "That's no way to talk to close allies"
The pressure that the USA is exerting on Denmark over Greenland is great, criticized Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, but they will stand firm. Now her foreign minister is following up with clear words.
29.03.2025, 12:01
29.03.2025, 12:35
SDA
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- "That's no way to talk to close allies": Denmark's foreign minister tells the USA off.
- The criticism is in. In connection with JD Vance's controversial visit to the island.
- At the same time, Lars Løkke Rasmussen offered Washington talks on increasing the US military presence.
"That's no way to talk to close allies": Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has rebuked US Vice President J.D. Vance with harsh words. In a video on the X platform, which was uploaded just hours after Vance's visit to Greenland, Rasmussen gave the Republican a lesson in diplomacy.
The US Vice President had previously voiced harsh criticism of Denmark during a speech to US soldiers at the US base in Pituffik. Copenhagen is doing too little for Greenland's security in the face of threats from Russia and China, said the loyal friend of US President Donald Trump.
Of course Denmark is open to criticism, Rasmussen emphasized. However, he added: "But to be quite honest: We don't appreciate the tone in which this is being presented at all." This is no way to talk to close allies, which he still considers the USA and Denmark to be.
"If that's what you want, let's talk about it"
Although he addressed his words to "our American friends and anyone else who will listen", he was clearly referring to Vance's speech. Rasmussen offered talks about a stronger US military presence on Greenland. The 1951 joint defense agreement offers ample opportunities for this, he said.
"If that's what you want, let's talk about it," said the liberal Danish politician. He explained how the USA has drastically reduced its military presence on the island, which belongs to Denmark, since 1945. "We can do much more within the agreement we have," said Rasmussen.
Specifically responding to Vance's criticism of Copenhagen, he said: "(The fact is that) we have all benefited from peace. We have all acted on the assumption that the Arctic was and should be a region of low tension. But those days are over. The status quo is not an option."
Denmark has therefore already decided to invest one billion US dollars (around 880 million francs) in Arctic security. It should also not be forgotten that Greenland is part of NATO, Rasmussen added.
