Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance received a chilly reception during their arrival in Greenland on Friday. The two, along with national security adviser Mike Waltz, are visiting the American military base on the island as part of a revised and shortened itinerary.
Vance toured the U.S. Space Force outpost at Pituffik, where he later spoke to the media.
"We know that Russia and China and other nations are taking an extraordinary interest in Arctic passageways and Arctic naval routes," Vance said during the visit.
"I think we do have to be more serious about the security of Greenland," Vance further explained. "We can't just ignore this place."
Vance said there are not any immediate plans to expand the U.S. military presence in Greenland and that he does not think military force will ever be necessary.
The vice president also said that he believes Greenland will be better off under the U.S. "security umbrella" than it has been under Denmark's.
Before adjusting the itinerary, White House officials suggested the Trump administration would be welcomed in Greenland. But officials decided to scale back the visit.
“This is a visit to learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people and to attend a dogsled race the United States is proud to sponsor, plain and simple,” said National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes.
News of the visit had not been well received by locals in the wake of President Donald Trump's continued suggestions that the U.S. take control of the Arctic nation.
RELATED STORY | JD Vance to accompany wife Usha on Greenland trip amid Trump takeover remarks
"We need Greenland for national security and international security. So we'll, I think, we'll go as far as we have to go," President Donald Trump said earlier this week.
Greenland Prime Minister Mette Egede said Vance's visit was not considered official and that Greenland has been treated "unacceptably."
Although Greenland has a harsh climate and a small population, climate change has made the territory more attractive for mining.
With climate change causing much of Greenland's ice to melt, University College London researchers say now is a critical time for the future of Greenland.
Greenland is a semi-autonomous part of Denmark. Although Greenland has its own government, it relies on Denmark for its national security and currency.
