Vice President Vance, speaking from a U.S. base in Greenland on Friday, stated that military force is not being considered in President Trump’s efforts to bring the territory under American control.
He emphasized that the United States respects Greenland’s sovereignty, despite Trump’s repeated assertions that the Arctic island should belong to the U.S.
“We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary,” Vance said in response to a reporter’s question about potential military intervention.
He suggested that Greenland’s future may be shaped through self-determination, saying, “What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark, and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.”
Vance delivered his remarks from the Pituffik Space Base, a strategic U.S. military installation in northwestern Greenland that plays a key role in missile defense, early warning systems, and space surveillance.
President Trump has repeatedly argued that acquiring Greenland would bolster U.S. national security, citing concerns over Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic.
“We need Greenland for international security. We have to have Greenland,” Trump said in remarks from the White House on Friday.
Vance also pointed to Denmark’s handling of Greenland’s security, criticizing Copenhagen’s approach by stating that the Danes “have not done their job in keeping this area safe.”
Greenland remains an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which has strongly opposed any notion of selling the island. Danish officials also criticized Vance’s visit. Vance reassured that the U.S. has no plans to expand its military presence on the island and stated that any future security discussions would involve Greenland’s capital, Nuuk.
His visit to Pituffik followed the White House’s decision to cancel a planned “heritage” tour of the island for second lady Usha Vance, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The tour was scrapped amid strong opposition from officials in Nuuk and Copenhagen, as well as a cool reception from Greenlanders.
