Danish Official Pushes Back on Vance's Greenland Comments: "We Do Not Appreciate the Tone"

Denmark has made it clear that it’s not thrilled with the "tone" of recent remarks by U.S. Vice President JD Vance regarding Greenland. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen released a pointed video statement on Friday, reminding the U.S. that "this is not how you speak to your close allies." Ouch. Someone's not mincing words today.

The diplomatic dust-up stems from Vance’s visit to the U.S. military base in Greenland, where he accused Denmark of neglecting its responsibilities to protect the Arctic territory from Russian and Chinese threats. Speaking to American troops at the Pituffik Space Base, Vance criticized Copenhagen’s efforts, saying, "Denmark hasn’t done a good job at keeping Greenland safe." He added that Denmark has "underinvested" in both Greenland's people and its security infrastructure. Clearly, he wasn’t there to exchange pleasantries.

Rasmussen didn’t hold back in his rebuttal. "Much is being said these days. Many accusations and many allegations have been made," he said in his video message. "We are open to criticism. But let me be completely honest: we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered." He emphasized that Denmark and the U.S. are allies, but this recent rhetoric doesn’t reflect that partnership.

To be fair, this isn’t the first time the topic of Greenland has sparked international drama. Former President Donald Trump famously floated the idea of buying Greenland during his term, and it seems his administration’s interest in the strategic territory hasn’t waned. Vance’s visit only underscores that point, with his remarks signaling a push for increased American influence in the Arctic.

Rasmussen, however, wasn’t just on the defensive. He pointed out that Denmark has already stepped up its Arctic investments, allocating a billion dollars for new drones, ships, and personnel. He also reiterated Denmark’s commitment to honoring its obligations under the NATO framework, welcoming allies to play a greater role in Arctic security. Translation: "We’re doing our part, so maybe ease up on the finger-pointing."

In a rare moment of agreement, Rasmussen did acknowledge that both Denmark and the U.S. share some responsibility for underestimating the growing geopolitical challenges in the Arctic. "That time is over," he said. "Status quo is not an option." Well, at least they can agree on that much.

As the Arctic becomes both a literal and figurative hotbed of global interest, it’s clear that Denmark and the U.S. will need to find a way to work together. Whether they can do that without trading more barbs remains to be seen.