Trump’s Threat: Europeans denying making concessions over Greenland untrue –VP JD Vance

*United States Vice-President JD Vance claims the European allies of the American country have made more concessions to it over potential annexation of Greenland than they publicly admit, insisting their saying otherwise ‘is not true’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

European allies of the United States (US) have made more concessions to the American country over Greenland than they publicly admit, US Vice-President JD Vance has said.

Vance, who stated this in an interview on the Megyn Kelly Show, said: “We definitely have gotten much more than we initially had.”

The US Vice-President also suggested that the “framework of a future deal” – unveiled by President Donald Trump last month – would be of benefit to the country.

Recently, President Trump’s announcement came as a relief after mounting fear that the US was prepared to use force of a military attack against fellow North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) ally Denmark, to seize its semi-autonomous Arctic island.

The US President also emphasised that Greenland is necessary to defence against possible attacks from either Russia or China.

However, both Denmark and Greenland have said they will not agree to cede sovereignty to the United States.

ConsumerConnect gathered that their European allies have rallied to their support in this regard.

Why the US Government’s fuss about Greenland?

Greenland is sparsely populated, but its location between North America and the Arctic makes it well-placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks.

Besides, Trump has claimed without evidence that Greenland is “covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.”

The US President further said the US needs to own Greenland to properly defend it, agency report said.

Meanwhile, report indicated that over 100 US military personnel are permanently stationed at a US base in Greenland’s north-western tip – a facility that has been operated by the US since World War II.

Under existing agreements with Denmark, the US has the power to bring as many troops as it wants to Greenland.

Though VP Vance did not give details of what the Trump-announced plan contained that had not been available to the US before, he restated that the Chinese and the Russians had designs on the Arctic island.

He noted: “It’s one of the unwritten rules that everybody knows that if the Chinese or the Russians affected one of our critical missile defence systems, we would necessarily defend that. But we’re not getting anything for it.

“Let’s rewrite the rules a little bit here and say that if the United States is going to protect the entire world’s missile defence system – primarily our own, but other people benefit from it – we should get some benefit from the bargain.”

It is not clear if Vance was referring to Greenland’s natural resources, including rare earth minerals, uranium and iron, which are becoming easier to access as its ice melts because of climate change, Reuters report also said.

Aside from this, scientists reportedly think Greenland could have significant oil and gas reserves.

Trump has said the “framework deal” would involve access to Greenland’s mineral resources.

The US Vice-President yet, has accused European allies of duplicity, according to report.

Vance said: “It’s so funny because the Europeans, they’re so friendly in private, and they’re willing to make a lot of accommodations, and then publicly they attack us.

“I’m sorry, it’s all bogus.”

The Vice-President reiterated: “The idea that they haven’t made any accommodations or concessions to the United States, it’s not true.”

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