US Warns Europe to Take Greenland Security Seriously or Face Action

US Vice President JD Vance has publicly advised European leaders to take President Trump's stance on Greenland seriously, emphasizing its critical importance for missile defence. He warned that hostile adversaries are showing interest in the territory and that the US would have to "do something about it" if Europe does not take its security more seriously. This follows White House statements that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority and that all options, including military use, are on the table. Concurrently, President Trump attacked NATO, claiming he successfully pushed members to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP.

Key Points: US VP Vance Urges Europe to Heed Trump on Greenland Security

  • Greenland vital for global missile defence
  • Hostile adversaries show interest in region
  • US may act if Europe doesn't secure it
  • Trump pushes NATO spending to 5% of GDP
4 min read

'Advice to European leaders is to take US President seriously': JD Vance on Greenland

US Vice President JD Vance warns European leaders to take President Trump's Greenland security concerns seriously, citing hostile adversaries' interest in the region.

"take the President of the United States seriously - JD Vance"

Washington DC, January 9

US Vice President JD Vance said on Thursday that the European leaders should take President Trump seriously on Greenland, seeing how "hostile adversaries" are showing interest in the region. Calling it important not only for American missile defence, but also the world missile defence, Vance said that Europe should take its security more seriously, otherwise the US would have to "do something about it".

When asked about his message to European leaders on Greenland, the US VP said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would meet the leaders of Greenland and Denmark soon and highlighted the importance of Greenland.

"Secretary Rubio, I believe, is meeting with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland next week. I would say it is, but maybe it's the week after that. We'll continue to deliver some of these messages in private, some of them in public, but I guess my advice to European leaders and anybody else would be to take the President of the United States seriously," Vice President Vance said at the White House Press briefing.

He added, "What has the President said, number one, Greenland is really important, not just to America's missile defence, but to the world's missile defence. Number two, we know that there are hostile adversaries that have shown a lot of interest in that particular territory, that particular slice of the world, so what we're asking our European friends to do is to take the security of that land mass more seriously, because if they're not, the United States is going to have to do something about it. What that is, I'll leave that to the President, as we continue to engage in diplomacy with our European friends and everybody on this particular topic."

On Tuesday, the White House said on Tuesday that it is considering "a range of options" to acquire Greenland, and that the use of military is not off the table, CNN reported, citing Karoline Leavitt.

According to CNN, Leavitt said that the US President has made it well-known that "acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States" and is important to deter the adversaries in the Arctic region.

"President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it's vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region. The President and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilising the U.S. Military is always an option at the Commander in Chief's disposal," Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to CNN.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the intergovernmental military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), claiming that the alliance depended entirely on Washington for its survival, shortly after European leaders pushed back against his remarks on taking over Greenland and reaffirming NATO unity.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that before his intervention, most NATO members were not meeting their defence spending commitments and were relying on Washington to shoulder the burden.

The US President stated that he pushed NATO members to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, asserting that allies now pay "immediately" because of his personal influence.

"Remember, for all of those big NATO fans, they were at 2% GDP, and most weren't paying their bills, UNTIL I CAME ALONG. The USA was, foolishly, paying for them! I, respectfully, got them to 5% GDP, AND THEY PAY, immediately. Everyone said that couldn't be done, but it could, because, beyond all else, they are all my friends," Trump said.

His remarks came a day after European leaders issued a joint statement pushing back against Trump's renewed remarks about Greenland, asserting that Arctic security must be addressed collectively.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The tone is so threatening – "the US would have to do something about it." It reminds me of how big powers treat smaller nations. Greenland belongs to its people, not a piece on a chessboard for global powers. Europe should stand united on this.
R
Rohit P
From an Indian perspective, the Arctic is becoming a new strategic frontier. We have our own scientific research station there. While the US-China-Russia rivalry heats up, India must engage with all parties wisely and protect its economic and research interests in the region. Jai Hind!
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Sarah B
It's concerning to see the US openly discussing military options to acquire territory in the 21st century. This isn't the 19th century. International law and the sovereignty of Denmark/Greenland must be respected. A very dangerous precedent.
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Vikram M
The real story is the crumbling of NATO. Trump is right that Europe didn't pay its share, but his method of public bullying is counterproductive. For India, it shows alliances are fragile. We need strong bilateral ties with multiple nations, not to put all eggs in one basket.
K
Karthik V
Respectfully, I have to criticize the US VP's language. "Take the President seriously" sounds like a threat, not diplomacy. As a nation that values Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family), India's approach to global issues should always be through dialogue and respect for sovereignty. This is not the way.

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