“THE DANES DID NOT DO A GOOD JOB!” Vance: Greenland is “crucial to defending the world from Russian and Chinese missiles”! (VIDEO)

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said that Greenland is of decisive importance for the defense of the United States and the world from potential Russian or Chinese missile attacks, sharply criticizing Europe and Denmark for having “not done a good job” in securing the strategic territory. His comments come as the White House confirmed that it is “actively” considering the option of purchasing Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, the BBC reports.

In an interview with Fox News, Vance was asked how far the United States is willing to go regarding Greenland.

ARCTIC BLAST: VP Vance calls out Europe for failing to properly secure Greenland, which is “critical" to our national security.

“The president of the United States is saying very clearly, you are not doing a good job with respect to Greenland. We’re going to make sure we defend… pic.twitter.com/sgKhY8PX1V
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 8, 2026

“Greenland is crucial for the security of the entire world”

“Well, the final decision will be made by the president, but there is a lot of pushback coming from Europe, and at the same time Europe has not grappled with the fundamental argument being made by the president and the entire administration. Greenland is crucial, not only for our national security, but for the security of the entire world. People don’t understand that,” he said.

“The entire missile defense infrastructure partially depends on Greenland. If, God forbid, the Russians or the Chinese — I’m not saying they will, but if in the future someone were to launch a nuclear missile toward our continent or toward Europe, Greenland is a key part of that defensive system,” he added.

“So the question becomes: have the Europeans, have the Danes, done a good job of securing Greenland and ensuring that it can continue to serve as an anchor of global security and missile defense? And the answer is, obviously, no. They have invested too little in security. They have not secured that area well,” Vance said.

“What I hear them say constantly boils down to the past. They say: we fought together in World War II or in the war on terror. And we are grateful for that. We love having such allies. But the fact that you did something smart 25 years ago doesn’t mean you can’t do something stupid today. The president of the United States is sending a very clear message: you are not doing a good job when it comes to Greenland. We will take care of protecting American interests, and I think the president is prepared to go as far as necessary to do that,” Vance concluded.

The strategic importance of Greenland lies in its position between North America and the Arctic, making it ideal for early warning systems. The United States has maintained the Pituffik military base there for decades, with more than 100 permanently stationed troops.

In recent years, interest has also grown in the island’s vast natural resources, including rare metals, uranium, and iron, which are becoming more accessible due to melting ice.

“Greenland belongs to its people”

Both Greenland and Denmark, a NATO member, have repeatedly made it clear that the island is not for sale. Trump made a similar offer in 2019 during his first term, but it was flatly rejected. Denmark warned that any attempt at a forced takeover would mean the end of the NATO alliance.

European leaders have come to Denmark’s defense. “Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on issues concerning their relations,” said a joint statement by the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark.

They called for respect for the UN Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing that security in the Arctic must be achieved “collectively” within NATO.

“A clear threat”

Aja Chemnitz, one of the two representatives representing Greenland in the Danish parliament, called the Trump administration’s statements a “clear threat.” “It is completely disrespectful on the part of the United States not to rule out the annexation of our country and the annexation of another NATO ally,” she said.

Still, she believes annexation is unlikely, but expects that the United States will “apply pressure to ensure that over time it takes over Greenland.”