US pushes for control of Greenland to counter Russia and China

US Vice President JD Vance said Washington needs to gain control of Greenland to counter threats from China and Russia.

During a visit to the US Pituffik military base in northwestern Greenland on March 28, US Vice President JD Vance criticized Denmark for "not doing a good job" in investing in and protecting the island, according to The Guardian .

US accuses Denmark of failing to protect Greenland from Russia and China

Speaking to US troops alongside senior officials including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Senator Mike Lee, Mr. Vance stressed that the US has a problem not with the Greenlandic people, but with the Danish government. He accused Copenhagen of underinvestment in security and infrastructure in Greenland, and asserted that US policy would change that.

US Vice President JD Vance at Pituffik base in Greenland on March 28.

Mr Vance also argued that Greenland would be safer under US protection than Denmark, as the region faces “multiple intrusions from Russia, China and other countries”.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump continued to assert that the US needs Greenland to ensure "world peace". Speaking at the White House, he stressed that "if Denmark and the (European Union) EU don't understand that, we have to explain it to them". President Trump said that the area has an increasing presence of Russian and Chinese ships, raising security concerns.

Just before Mr. Vance arrived in Greenland, four of the island's five political parties signed an agreement to form a coalition government, asserting sovereignty with the statement: "Greenland belongs to us." According to the agreement, the new government in Greenland will be headed by Democratic Party leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen. The Democratic Party won the most votes in the general election on March 11, according to Reuters.

Greenland Premier-elect Jens-Frederik Nielsen

Tensions have risen recently as President Trump continues to insist that the US needs control of Greenland for national security reasons. However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has vowed to “resist unacceptable pressure” from Washington.

Greenland's new Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen criticized Vance's visit as disrespectful, as he came at a time when there was no new government. "The US cannot impose its decisions on Greenland," he stressed.

In response to the backlash from Nuuk and Copenhagen, Mr. Vance cut back his itinerary, stopping only at the Pituffik military base instead of the capital Nuuk. Greenland’s government also stressed that it would decide its own future and partners.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-thuc-day-kiem-soat-greenland-de-doi-pho-nga-va-trung-quoc-185250329085910948.htm