U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that Denmark “obviously” had not done a proper job in securing Greenland and that U.S. President Donald Trump “is willing to go as far as he has to” to defend American interests in the Arctic.
In an interview with Fox News, Vance repeated Trump’s claim that Greenland is crucial to both the U.S. and the world’s national security because “the entire missile defense infrastructure is partially dependent on Greenland.”
He said the fact that Denmark has been a faithful military ally of the U.S. during World War II and the more recent “war on terrorism” did not necessarily mean they were doing enough to secure Greenland today.
“Just because you did something smart 25 years ago doesn’t mean you can’t do something dumb now,” Vance said, adding that Trump “is saying very clearly, ‘you are not doing a good job with respect to Greenland.’”
Other news we’re following:
- Rubio plans to meet with Danish officials: Denmark has welcomed a meeting with the U.S. next week to discuss Trump’s renewed call for the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island of Greenland to come under American control. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said on Wednesday that a meeting about Greenland would happen next week, without giving details about timing, location or participants.
- US will exit 66 international organizations: Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending U.S. support for 66 organizations, agencies, and commissions following his administration’s review of participation in and funding for all international organizations, including those affiliated with the United Nations, according to a White House release.
- US seeks to assert its control over Venezuelan oil with tanker seizures and sales worldwide: Trump’s administration on Wednesday seized a pair of sanctioned tankers transporting petroleum and announced plans to relax some sanctions so the U.S. can oversee the sale of Venezuela’s petroleum worldwide. Besides the U.S. enforcing an existing oil embargo, the Energy Department says the “only oil transported in and out of Venezuela” will be through approved channels consistent with U.S. law and national security interests.