US Vice President JD Vance accused Denmark on Friday of failing to properly invest in Greenland during a visit to the strategically significant Arctic territory, which has long been eyed by US President Donald Trump.

Speaking at the Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, Vance said Denmark had "under-invested in the people of Greenland and in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass."

His visit, viewed as provocative by both Copenhagen and Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, has escalated tensions over US ambitions in the Arctic.

Danish, Greenlandic officials push back

Denmark and Greenland, with backing from the European Union, have firmly rejected any US attempt to annex the island.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen denounced the uninvited visit as “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland and Denmark. Meanwhile, a January poll showed that a majority of Greenlanders oppose any US takeover of the territory.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s newly appointed prime minister, accused the US of disrespecting Greenlandic sovereignty.

“It is very important that we put aside our disagreements and differences... because only in this way will we be able to cope with the heavy pressure we are exposed to from outside,” Nielsen said.

Greenland, home to 57,000 people—mostly Inuit—has been seeking greater autonomy from Denmark. However, while all Greenlandic political parties support eventual independence, none favor becoming part of the United States.

A grocery list of interests

The Pituffik base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, is a crucial part of the US missile defense system. It plays a key role in detecting potential Russian missile launches and monitoring Arctic air and sea activity.

Denmark recently announced a $2 billion investment to strengthen its Arctic presence, including new surveillance equipment and specialized vessels.

Meanwhile, US officials have expressed interest in Greenland’s rich, untapped mineral resources.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former mining executive, told Fox News that US-Greenland mining cooperation could “bring jobs and economic opportunity to Greenland and critical minerals to the United States.”

However, Greenland currently bans oil and uranium exploration, and many locals remain wary of large-scale foreign resource extraction.