During the speech in front of the military and the world press, JD Vance repeated his criticism of Denmark, which he claims has not spent enough money on Greenland.
Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job in keeping Greenland safe, he said.
Jan Hallenberg, professor emeritus in political science, says that the truthfulness of the vice president's statements is low and views the speech as domestic politics. Vance tried to explain to Americans how the USA would benefit from having Greenland – and referred to mineral wealth and the strategic relationship.
"Not particularly much substance"
This about the Chinese and Russians' interest, it has been said a lot about it, but it does not seem to be particularly much substance in it, says Hallenberg and continues:
It was huge exaggerations that it would be necessary for the USA's security, as he (Vance) said, to have this island. He has not proven it. Neither he nor anyone else before.
Hallenberg emphasizes at the same time that the USA already has a base on Greenland, which is part of NATO together with Denmark. The USA has on its own initiative reduced the number of soldiers on Greenland.
The USA has 200 men at this base. If it is so terribly important, why do they not take 25,000 men there?
Trust in persuasive ability
How the USA's president Donald Trump thinks an takeover should be carried out – when the majority of Greenland's population does not want to belong to the USA – is shrouded in darkness. According to Hallenberg, Trump places great trust in his own persuasive ability in combination with the USA's power, but the Greenlanders do not buy what he says.
I cannot see that it can become a political path and I cannot imagine that it is a military path. I mean, Trump can do a lot, he is strong in foreign policy, but to invade a NATO country... Well, it goes beyond the limit.
