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Reuters
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Exclusive: Danish general says he is not losing sleep over US plans for Greenland
COPENHAGEN, June 26 (Reuters) - The head of Denmark's Arctic command said the prospect of a U.S. takeover of Greenland was not keeping him up at night after talks with a senior U.S. general last week but that more must be done to deter any Russian attack on the Arctic island. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested the United States might acquire Greenland, a vast semi-autonomous Danish territory on the shortest route between North America and Europe vital for the U.S. ballistic missile warning system. Trump has not ruled out taking the territory by force and, at a congressional hearing this month, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth did not deny that such contingency plans exist. Such a scenario "is absolutely not on my mind," Soren Andersen, head of Denmark's Joint Arctic Command, told Reuters in an interview, days after what he said was his first meeting with the general overseeing U.S. defence of the area. "I sleep perfectly well at night," Anderson said. "Militarily, we work together, as we always have." U.S. General Gregory Guillot visited the U.S. Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on June 19-20 for the first time since the U.S. moved Greenland oversight to the Northern command from its European command, the Northern Command said on Tuesday. Andersen's interview with Reuters on Wednesday were his first detailed comments to media since his talks with Guillot, which coincided with Danish military exercises on Greenland involving one of its largest military presences since the Cold War. Russian and Chinese state vessels have appeared unexpectedly around Greenland in the past and the Trump administration has accused Denmark of failing to keep it safe from potential incursions. Both countries have denied any such plans. Andersen said the threat level to Greenland had not increased this year. "We don't see Russian or Chinese state ships up here," he said. Denmark's permanent presence consists of four ageing inspection vessels, a small surveillance plane, and dog sled patrols tasked with monitoring an area four times the size of France. Previously focused on demonstrating its presence and civilian tasks like search and rescue, and fishing inspection, the Joint Arctic Command is now shifting more towards territorial defence, Andersen said. "In reality, Greenland is not that difficult to defend," he said. "Relatively few points need defending, and of course, we have a plan for that. NATO has a plan for that." As part of the military exercises this month, Denmark has deployed a frigate, F-16s, special forces and extra troops, and increased surveillance around critical infrastructure. They would leave next week when the exercises end, Andersen said, adding that he would like to repeat them in the coming months. "To keep this area conflict-free, we have to do more, we need to have a credible deterrent," he said. "If Russia starts to change its behaviour around Greenland, I have to be able to act on it." In January, Denmark pledged over $2 billion to strengthen its Arctic defence, including new Arctic navy vessels, long-range drones, and satellite coverage. France offered to deploy troops to Greenland and EU's top military official said it made sense to station troops from EU countries there. Around 20,000 people live in the capital Nuuk, with the rest of Greenland's 57,000 population spread across 71 towns, mostly on the west coast. The lack of infrastructure elsewhere is a deterrent in itself, Andersen said. "If, for example, there were to be a Russian naval landing on the east coast, I think it wouldn't be long before such a military operation would turn into a rescue mission," he said. ($1 = 6.3701 Danish crowns)
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Space Force commander fired after email DOD says ‘undermined' JD Vance
The commander of a Space Force base in Greenland was fired Thursday, hours after the revelation that she had sent an email distancing the base from Vice President JD Vance's comments during a recent visit. Pituffik Space Base commander Col. Susan Meyers was removed from command 'for loss of confidence in her ability to lead,' the Space Force said in a statement Thursday evening. 'Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,' the Space Force said. reported Thursday that Meyers sent an email to Pituffik personnel on March 31, days after Vance's visit to the base, that seemed intended to foster solidarity between U.S. service members and personnel stationed there from other countries, including Denmark and Greenland. 'I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base,' Meyers reportedly wrote. Meyers also reportedly wrote that over the weekend, she thought a great deal about 'the actions taken, the words spoken [during Vance's visit], and how it must have affected each of you.' Meyers pledged in the message that as long as she is in charge of the base, 'all of our flags will fly proudly — together.' Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell retweeted story on the email and added a screenshot of the announcement of Meyers' firing. 'Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump's agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense,' Parnell wrote on X. In his second term, President Donald Trump has intensified his desire to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory partially governed by Denmark. Greenland is strategically located, and has significant resource reserves including oil, natural gas, minerals and rare earth elements. In his March 28 visit to Pituffik, Vance rankled Danish allies by alleging 'Denmark hasn't done a good job at keeping Greenland safe.' 'Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,' Vance said. 'You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change.' Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen made his displeasure with Vance's comments known in a video on social media later that day. 'We are open to criticism,' Rasmussen said. 'But … we do not appreciate the tone in which it's being delivered. This is not how you speak to your close allies, and I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.' Rasmussen said Denmark and Greenland remain open to discussing a greater U.S. military presence in Greenland. Meyers became commander of the installation and the 821st Space Base Group in July 2024. Col. Shawn Lee is now in command of the base, the service said. Meyers was fired by Col. Kenneth Klock, commander of Space Base Delta 1 at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado.
Euronews
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
US is putting 'unacceptable pressure' on Greenland, Danish PM says
ADVERTISEMENT Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised the US on Tuesday for putting "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland, ahead of an unsolicited visit to the Arctic island by members of the Trump administration. A delegation from Washington including Second Lady Usha Vance, wife of US Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright is set to visit semi-autonomous Danish territory from Thursday until Sunday. "I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist," Frederiksen told Danish media. "You cannot make a private visit with official representatives from another country." US President Donald Trump on Monday repeated his desire to take over Greenland, using national security as a justification. He said that the upcoming visit was about "friendliness, not provocation". However, Greenland's Prime Minister Múte Egede on Monday called the visit "highly aggressive". He said that there would be no official meetings with the US representatives as the island has just held elections, with a new government yet to be formed. Related Greenland's prime minister condemns US officials' visit as 'demonstration of power' Trump insists Usha Vance's visit to Greenland is 'friendly' Egede, who will remain in his post until a new government convenes, wrote on Facebook that there was worry on the island over the visits. The "only purpose" of a trip by Waltz is "a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood," Egede said. Frederiksen referred to Egede's comments in her interview on Tuesday, saying that it was "clear that when you make a visit in this way, and the Greenlandic politicians clearly say that they do not want the visit, you cannot interpret it as respectful." 'It is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs, or what Greenland wants,' the Danish leader concluded. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, a long-time US ally that has rejected Trump's overtures. Copenhagen has recognised the island's right to independence at a time of its choosing. Last month, JD Vance blasted Denmark for "not doing its job" and "not being a good ally" by not countering the Chinese use of sea lanes in the region. "So you have to ask yourself: How are we going to solve that problem, solve our own national security?" JD Vance told Fox News. "If that means that we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do." During the US delegation's visit to Greenland, Usha Vance and one of her three children will "visit historic sites" and "learn about Greenlandic heritage", according to her office. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said that it "should not be a surprise" that Waltz and Wright would visit "a US Space Base to get first-hand briefings from our service members on the ground," referring to the US Pituffik military space base in northern Greenland.
Euronews
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Trump insists Usha Vance's visit to Greenland is 'friendly'
ADVERTISEMENT US President Donald Trump on Monday insisted that second lady Usha Vance's planned visit to Greenland is about "friendliness, not provocation." "This is friendliness and provocation. We're dealing with a lot of people from Greenland that would like to see something happen with respect to their being properly protected and properly taken care of," Trump said during a Cabinet meeting. The wife of US Vice President JD Vance, Usha Vance, is set to travel to Greenland this week as Trump continues to suggest the US could take control of the mineral-rich Arctic island. Her office said Vance will leave on Thursday and return on Saturday. Usha will be part of a US delegation set to 'visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland's national dogsled race.' Trump's conciliatory tone on Monday comes as Greenland's prime minister Múte Bourup Egede warned of 'American aggression' and lamented a 'mess' caused by the upcoming visit from Vance, who will be joined by Trump's national security adviser and energy secretary. Trump claimed to have been receiving positive overtures from the island nation, although authorities there have clearly expressed concerns ahead of the visit. There is 'worry on the Island' Egede, who remains in the post as Greenland's prime minister until a new government is formed, acknowledged Sunday on Facebook that there is worry on the island. The visit of 'the wife of the United States vice president and the United States president's highest security adviser cannot be seen only as a private visit, "he said. 'We can already see now how big a mess it's caused.' Egede said there would be no official meetings with the US visitors because a new government has yet to be formed. He called on Greenland's allies to show support, adding that 'the only purpose' of a trip by Waltz is 'a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood.' 'We have been treated unacceptably,' he wrote on his Facebook account. Related Greenland's prime minister condemns US officials' visit as 'demonstration of power' Greenland's likely next leader calls for unity However, Demokraatit's Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the likely next Greenlandic leader, attempted to allay fears by announcing that he was forming a new coalition government "with the clear goal of creating security for our country and our people." 'When foreign dignitaries travel to our country on what are called private visits, it rightly causes concern,' he wrote on Facebook. 'There is no reason to panic. But there is good reason to stand together and to demand respect. I do. And I will continue to do so.' Greenland is a self-governing region of Denmark, and northwestern Greenland houses the US Pituffik military base that falls under the Pentagon's Space Force. ADVERTISEMENT But Trump has repeatedly said that he thinks the US should take control of Greenland for strategic and national security purposes, something that has rattled NATO ally Denmark and the European Union.
