Danish Foreign Minister Criticizes US Vice President Vance: "That's Not How You Talk to Allies"

RND - Editorial Network Danish Foreign Minister Criticizes US Vice President Vance: "That's Not How You Talk to Allies" 8 hours • 2 minutes reading time Denmark's Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen answers questions from the press in Parliament, Christiansborg Palace, following the recent statements by future US President Trump about Denmark and Greenland. "That's not how you talk to close allies" – Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen harshly rebuked US Vice President J.D. Vance. In a video on the X platform, uploaded just hours after Vance's visit to Greenland, Rasmussen gave the Republican a lesson in diplomacy. The US Vice President had previously sharply criticized Denmark during a speech to US soldiers at the US base in Pituffik. Copenhagen is doing too little for Greenland's security in the face of threats from Russia and China, according to the loyalist of US President Donald Trump. Of course, Denmark is open to criticism, Rasmussen emphasizes. However, he added: "But to be completely honest: We do not appreciate the tone in which this is being presented at all." That is not how one speaks to close allies, which he continues to consider the US and Denmark. Although he addressed his words to "our American friends and anyone else listening," he was clearly referring to Vance's speech. "If that's what you want, let's talk about it." Rasmussen offered talks about a stronger US military presence in Greenland. The 1951 Joint Defense Agreement offers ample opportunities for this. "If that's what you want, let's talk about it," said the liberal Danish politician. He explained how the US has drastically reduced its military presence on the Danish island since 1945. "We can do much more within the agreement we have," Rasmussen said. Specifically addressing Vance's criticism of Copenhagen, he replied: "(...) The fact is that we have all benefited from peace. We have all acted on the assumption that the Arctic was and should be a region of low tension. But those days are over. The status quo is not an option." Denmark has therefore already committed one billion US dollars (about 920 million euros) to investments in Arctic security. It should also not be forgotten that Greenland is part of NATO, Rasmussen added.