US Vice President JD Vance has said that European allies have given Americans more rights in Greenland than they are willing to publicly admit, writes the BBC.
Vance said in an interview on the Megyn Kelly Show that the US has gained much more than it initially had. He stressed that the guidelines for future cooperation mentioned by US President Donald Trump in January will be very beneficial for Americans.
Trump’s statement in January was a relief after statements were made that the US was also ready to use force against its NATO ally Denmark to gain control of the Arctic island of Greenland. The US president said that Greenland is particularly important to protect against possible attacks from Russia and China.
Both Denmark and its autonomous territory Greenland have said they will not give up sovereignty over the Arctic territory, and European leaders have shown support for the Danes.
Greenland is sparsely populated, but its location makes it an ideal location for early warning systems.
Trump has claimed, without providing evidence, that the region is full with the Chinese and Russians, and that the Americans need the island to properly protect their country. The US military base in northwest Greenland currently has more than a hundred soldiers permanently stationed there, and has been operating since the end of World War II. Under the current agreement, the US can deploy as many troops as it deems necessary to Greenland.
Vance did not provide further details on the nuances of Trump’s announced plan, or what the additional benefits are, but he reiterated that the Russians and Chinese have their own plans for the island. The US vice president said that it is one of the unwritten laws that everyone knows – if the Russians or Chinese affect one of the American missile defense systems, they will be defended, but the Americans will not get anything in return. Therefore, the rules need to be rewritten a little, and if the US defends the entire world’s defense system, it must benefit in some way.
It is not known whether Vance was referring to Greenland’s natural resources (including rare earth metals, uranium and iron ore), which have become more accessible due to the melting of glaciers caused by climate change. Scientists believe that the Arctic island also has significant oil and gas reserves. Trump has previously said that the guidelines would also include providing access to Greenland’s resources.
Meanwhile, the US vice president accused European allies of duplicity – speaking privately, the Europeans are friendly and ready to give a lot, but publicly attacking the Americans. Vance added that it was all a show, and the idea that Europeans had not made the concessions to the United States was a fallacy.
Read also: Trump-made Greenland crisis: allies will not forget the move