US Vice President JD Vance has accused Denmark of leaving Greenland vulnerable to alleged incursions by China and Russia, after he urged its people to "make a deal" with the US.
According to foreign media, speaking during a visit to the Arctic island, Vance downplayed recent threats from US President Donald Trump to take control of the island by force.
Instead, he urged Greenlanders to sever ties with Denmark, which has owned the island for more than 300 years, saying it had not invested enough to protect the semi-autonomous territory.
An overwhelming majority of Greenlanders oppose the idea of annexation, a poll showed in January. Greenland's prime minister said the US vice president's visit showed a "lack of respect".
The visit has also drawn sharp criticism from Denmark. Lars Lokke Rasmussen, the Scandinavian country's foreign minister, said the Danes were "open to criticism" but "do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered," in a video message to "American friends."
He noted that the US military presence in Greenland had been reduced from 17 bases in 1945 to one that had about 200 soldiers, adding: "We can do more, much more, within the framework we have today... Let's do it together." (A2 Televizion)
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