Washington is increasing strategic pressure in the Arctic as US Vice President JD Vance publicly argues that the US deserves to receive part of Greenland's natural resources as a "reward" for military protection of this autonomous island belonging to Denmark.
In an interview with Newsmax, Mr. Vance affirmed that "US strength" is the only factor preventing external threats to Greenland. According to him, the US military presence here is not only to protect the island but also to ensure security for the United States itself.
We want to share the wealth of this beautiful land - where there are many minerals and resources - things that we are essentially protecting" - Mr. Vance said.
The US Vice President asked: "What prevents Russia or China from controlling Greenland? Is it Denmark's strength? I love Denmark very much, but no. It's America's strength.
Mr. Vance also emphasized that the Arctic is of strategic vital importance to Washington. According to his argument, if the US does not control this area, "our entire missile defense system may become unstable", making Americans "less safe".
The controversial statements were made in the context of US President Donald Trump declaring that a "framework agreement" on Greenland has been put on the negotiating table.
According to Mr. Trump, this framework was built after exchanges with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and will help the US have "full military access that we desire" on the Arctic island.
According to revealed information, Washington's proposal may include giving the US "sovereign base areas" in Greenland, while accelerating the exploitation of strategic minerals, especially rare earths - key raw materials for the defense and high-tech industries.
Greenland has long been considered a "geopolitical gold mine" with large reserves of rare earths, uranium and many other important minerals, while the geographical location of this island is crucial for controlling maritime routes and missile early warning systems in the Arctic.
However, Washington's argument based on the "Russia-China risk" has faced strong reactions from stakeholders. Both Moscow and Beijing have repeatedly publicly denied any intention to occupy or control Greenland.
Russian President Vladimir Putin once affirmed that the Greenland issue "is completely unrelated to us", while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Washington "clearly understands" that Russia and China have no such plans.
On the Chinese side, Beijing also criticized the US's use of Russia and China as an "excuse" to expand its presence and influence in the Arctic, saying that this is a more political interpretation than reflecting the reality of regional security.
