US Vice-President JD Vance spent a handful of hours in Greenland today, on a whirlwind trip alongside his wife Usha and Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz. Here's what happened:

• They visited the US Pituffik Space Base in the far north of the Arctic island, where Vance spoke with troops

• The vice-president scolded Denmark for not spending more on security in the region, saying they have "not done a good job" for the people of Greenland
• He reinforced President Donald Trump's vow to take control of the island, saying that this would be achieved through appealing to the people of Greenland, and not through military means
• Vance said Russia and China are increasing their footprints in the area and the world cannot "bury our heads in the sand - or in this case in the snow"
• Trump told reporters at the White House that "we have to have Greenland"
• Locals in Greenland expressed concerns about Vance's visit, with several telling the BBC that his presence threatens the island
• Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told the BBC that Vance's comments about Denmark were not accurate, and "for many years we have stood side-by-side with the Americans in very difficult situations"

We’re pausing our live coverage for the day, but here's some further reading about the US-Greenland relationship:

Qupanuk Olsen, a Greenland politician with the pro-independence party Naleraq, says the country is taking Donald Trump's demands very seriously.

She tells the BBC's Maryam Moshiri that Donald Trump Jr's visit in January first sparked concerns, saying "that’swhen we realised that his words are no longer just words, he actually meanswhat he says".

"We’reafraid of being colonised again. We’ve been a colony for the past 300 yearsunder Denmark, it still feels like it," Olsen says. "Now another coloniser is interested inus."

Olsen, however, says Greenland needs to be "open-minded" and consider strengthening relations with the US to secure a sustainable independence strategy.

"Trump is only going to be president for the next four years so we also need to think about what’s going tohappen in 10 years, 15 years," she adds.

We just heard from the Danish prime minister. Now let's look at some more reactions out of Denmark, after US Vice-President JD Vance's speech in Greenland earlier today.

"I am a little provoked," says the country’s Foreign Minister,Lars Løkke Rasmussen. He tells Danish network TV2, "These are very harshwords, and I am a little offended when you think that Denmark has always beenthere for the USA."

Jakob Kaarsbo, a former Chief Analyst in the Danish DefenseIntelligence Agency, told Danish broadcaster DR, the speech was a “politicalpropaganda stunt”. He added, "It is true that Denmark has underinvested inthe surveillance capabilities that have been agreed upon, but the US has alsounderinvested in their own military efforts in Greenland and in the Arctic formany years.”

"In isolation, this is a de-escalation,” FormerForeign Minister Mogens Lykketoft, told Danish newspaper Berlingke."Butyou don't really know if Trump will think differently tomorrow.”

Denmark’s ambassador to the US, Jesper Møller Sørensen respondedto JD Vance directly in a tweet on X, "We agree that we both could have doneeven more, which is why Denmark is taking action. Another 2 bn USD investmentin January - more to come soon… Our defence spending is now at 3.2%."

Image source,Getty Images

The BBC has received a statement from Danish Prime MinisterMette Frederiksen, which we have translated to English.

"The US vice-president has made it clear that the US respectsGreenland’s sovereignty and the Greenlanders’ right to self-determination. Itwas important that this was made clear," Frederiksen says.

The PM says "Denmark is a good and strong ally. For everyone in the NATOalliance".

"We have significantly increased defense spending. For many years we have stood side-by-side with the Americans in very difficult situations. Therefore, it is not an accurate way for the vice-president to refer to Denmark.

On the other hand, it is right that security in the Arctic must be given higher priority.

That is why Denmark is now strengthening our efforts. With, among other things, more surveillance, new Arctic ships, long-range drones and satellite capacity. More capabilities will come later. And we can strengthen security more quickly if we can get the necessary supplies, among other things, from the US.

Greenland is part of NATO, and therefore there is also a need for NATO to significantly increase its presence in the Arctic.

Security in The Arctic is a matter for NATO and for all Arctic allies.

We are ready – day and night – to cooperate with the Americans. A cooperation that must be based on the necessary international rules of the game. And in an increased defense for all parts of the NATO alliance."

Editor's note:While many Greenlanders favour independence from Denmark, polls suggest that the vast majority - 85% - of the territory's residents do not want to be part of the US.

Vance blasts Denmark but does not lay out what next steps for US will bepublished at 20:41 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March

20:41 GMT 28 March

Adrienne Murray
Reporting from Copenhagen

JD Vance wasted little time before launching into a heavy dressingdown of Denmark. As expected, he blasted the Nordic country for what he claimedwas decades of neglecting military spending and investment in Greenland’ssecurity architecture. He said Denmark had left the region vulnerable to Russianand Chinese encroachment.

However, he was keen to spell out that the US "argument is not withthe people of Greenland, but with the leadership of Denmark".

It was notablethat the tone was softer, and Trump’s threats to annex the territory weredownplayed, with Vance instead repeating that the United States supportedGreenland’s right to self-determination - but that an independent Greenlandshould partner the United States.

One Danish reporter said Vance had used a bit of a "good cop,bad cop" by saying that the US has no problem with the Greenlanders.

Though the speech trashed Denmark, there was a nervousnessbeforehand that it might have been worse. This wasn’t, at least, an escalation.

And there were no plans for enlarging the American militaryfootprint in terms of troops on the ground or more bases, though he did commentthat the US would carry out more investment in more icebreakers and navalships.

Even so, Vance offered few clues though as to what the United States’next steps are, which leaves some guessing, but concluded the US would cut a“Trump-style” deal.

States with territory and territorial waters within the Arctic Circle are Norway, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, the US, Canada and Denmark (which owns Greenland).

Andrew Harding
Reporting from Nuuk

"There are many ways to say things," Karline Poulsen says in the Nuuk Cultural Centre. "But I think the way President Trump is saying it is not the way."

The artist, who lives in Greenland's capital, says that she worries about Trump, describing the president's words as "like a threat".

Karline says the new coalition government that was formed in Greenland earlier today is a powerful message to the United States "if they consider things that way," describing the new group as "very powerful".

Vance's comments likely to rattle US alliespublished at 19:40 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March

19:40 GMT 28 March

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington

Image source,Getty Images

Vice-President JD Vance's comments at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland were nothing we have not heard before - but are sure to raise eyebrows among some US allies, particularly in Copenhagen.

His assertion that Denmark has been "under-investing" in Greenland's security is one that we've heard often from Vance, Donald Trump and others - not just about Greenland but about European security in general.

We also saw shades of that with this week's publication of the now-infamous Signals chat with other cabinet members, in which Vance expressed his displeasure with European allies.

Vance's comment that the US respects Greenlander's "self-determination" will also ring hollow to many, both in Greenland and in Denmark.

While many Greenlanders - including those of the centre-right Demokraatit Party that just won the most votes in Greenland's parliamentary election - favour independence from Denmark, polls show that the vast majority - 85% - of the territory's residents do not want to be part of the US.

It's unclear what the US endgame is here, although Vance seems certain that, ultimately, Greenlanders will "cut a deal" with the US.

Vance says that he believes a military operation will never be necessary, but the entire visit is likely to be seen as provocative, leaving many to question American intentions.

Many foreign observers will also be watching carefully to see if the administration's handling of Greenland offers any clues to how they will handle other foreign territories that Trump has expressed interest in - namely Panama, Canada and Gaza.

Here's more from the residents of Greenland's capital, Nuuk.

"I'm concerned (about the visit)...this is kind of odd, I don't like it," Nina tells the BBC.

She says the US already has a military base in Greenland "so they can upscale...why don't they do that?"

Her daughter says the visit has caused "a lot of uncertainty and a lot of people are worried".

The "intentions" of the Americans "aren't as pure or as clear as they claim to be", her daughter, Anita, says.

Greenlanders are usually "very welcoming people," Anita says, but in recent days, many have said they would turn their backs on the Vances if they saw them walking down the street "because of the disrespect" the Americans have shown.

While Vance was speaking, Trump shared a video produced by the lobbying group Securing American Greatness, outlining the US interests in Greenland.

The video Trump posted on social media features sweeping shots of Greenland's landscape, as well as archive footage that appears to come from newsreels in the 1940s.

"In the cold silence of the tundra, a bond was born," the narrator begins. The video goes on to describe how the Nazis sought control of the Arctic during WW2, and torpedoed a US ship that was on its way to Greenland to help prevent a Nazi invasion.

Four chaplains gave up their life vests "giving their lives so others might live, to protect America and Greenland," the video says. This refers to the sinking of the SS Dorchester by a German U-boat in 1943.

"But today, Greenland faces new threats - from Russian aggression and Chinese expansion," the narrator continues.

It goes on to say describe the US-Greenland partnership growing with "every Arctic patrol, every partnership forged in the shadow of melting ice and rising tensions."

"This is not just history. It is destiny," as music swells in the background and icebergs are shown on screen.

"Now is the time to stand together again," it continues. "For peace, for security, for the future. America stands with Greenland."

Image source,Getty Images

JD Vance and his wife Usha, along with the US officials in their travelling party, have just boarded Air Force Two and will soon depart Greenland.

They spent just a few hours on the island, and will be up in the air for around six hours before landing at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

US Vice-President JD Vance has just finished speaking to troops stationed in Greenland, and reporters who are accompanying him on his trip there.

Here's a look back at what he said:

• Vance - the highest ranking US official to ever visit the island - began by thanking troops for the "warm reception in a very, very cold place", beforeturning his attention to US national security
• The US base in Greenland isvital for monitoring missile threats to North America, he said, and will play a role in thefuture of "arctic passageways and naval channels"
• Vance said that China and Russia are taking a greater interest in the Arctic than US allies in Europe, andscolded Denmark for "under-investing" in the territory's "security architecture"
• Asked about Trump's vow to take control of the island, the VP said"we respect the self-determination of Greenlanders"
• Asked whether the US had drawn up a military plan to seize the territory, he said thathe predicts that Greenlanders would choose to break away from Denmark, and that conversations would then be held with the US to determine its future
• "We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary," he said

Vance is now asked if military plans to take over Greenland have been drafted.

"What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose - through self-determination - to become independent of Denmark," the vice-president says, "and then we're going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there".

He adds: "We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary".

With that, the press conference ends. We're pulling together a recap of the key lines - stay tuned.

Vance continues to talk about the US future in Greenland, but says that he does not believe that military force is necessary for the US to expand its presence on the Arctic island.

He says Trump holds the same opinion for his plans for Greenland.

Greenland, he says, is "extremely vulnerable right now". He says that he thinks Greenlanders will want to partner with the US, despite opinion polls showing widespread opposition from the local population to US governance.

Vance says "we think we're going to be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump-style, to ensure the security of this territory".

He says "this has to happen" and again blames Denmark, saying they haven't kept the area safe.

JD Vance is asked if there are specific threats to Greenland coming from China or Russia.

"We know that the Chinese are very, very interested in this island," he says, and that China has tried to put "economic pressures" on Greenland.

"We've seen very strong evidence" that China and Russia are interested in this area, he adds.

The vice-president is now taking questions from reporters.

Responding to the first question, he says that there are no immediate plans to expand the US military presence in Greenland.

But he says there are additional investments happening in icebreakers and naval ships that will have a presence in Greenland.

He again says Russia and China have an increased footprint in the area, and that "we need to wake up".

"We can't bury our heads in the sand - or in this case in the snow - and pretend the Chinese are not interested in this landmass," he says.

Addressing US troops, Vice-President JD Vance says "we respect the self-determination of Greenlanders".

He adds that the US argument is simple - and not with the people of Greenland but rather the leadership of Denmark.

Continuing, Vance says that the US "honours" the sacrifices of Danish soldiers who fought with the US in the "war on terror 20 years ago".

He says that important security partnerships from the past does not mean they can't have tough talk with partners in the present

"Our message to Denmark is simple, you have not done a good job for the people of Greenland. This is why Trump's policy is what it is."

He adds that Denmark was "under-invested in Greenland's security architecture".

The vice-president now criticises Denmark, saying the area surrounding the Pituffik Space Base is "less secure" than it was 30-40 years ago.

He says as Russia and China have "taken greater and greater interest in this base", our allies in Europe haven't kept up.

Vance says Denmark has not invested enough to keep the area safe.

Image source,Reuters

Vance takes centre stage again. He says many Americans may not understand why the Arctic is important to US national security.

He says that the US troops stations in Greenland are tasked with tracking any incoming missile threats to the US, and hopefully shooting down any aerial attack.

"We know that Russia and China and other nations are taking an interest in Arctic passageways and naval channels," he says, adding that rivals are also pursuing mineral rights in the region.

He continues by saying that if the US does not take an interest in Greenland, other nations will.