GEOFF BENNETT: President Trump today again# made clear his desire to take over Greenland,## which is a self-governed part of# Denmark.

Vice President Vance,## along with his wife and the president's# national security adviser, traveled to## the American military base there today to# again make their case, which has enraged## the governments of Greenland and Denmark and# driven another wedge between the U.S. and Europe.

Here's Stephanie Sy.

STEPHANIE SY: The trip began on a frigid# tarmac, J.D.

Vance and the second lad.. Usha Vance, whisked away to a U.S. military# base in Greenland's remote northwest.

J.D.

VANCE, Vice President of the United# States: It's cold as (EXPLETIVE DELETED) here.

STEPHANIE SY: Pituffik Space Base supports U.S.## missile defense and space surveillance# and was the Vance's only stop.

Today,## the vice president emphasized benefits# of what he called a partnership.

J.D.

VANCE: And if the people of Greenland# were willing to partner with the United States,## and I think that they ultimately# will partner with the United States,## we could make them much more secure,# we could do a lot more protection,## and I think they'd fare a lot# better economically as well.

STEPHANIE SY: What was supposed to be# a cultural visit by the vice president,## complete with a dogsled race, was in the end# heavily scaled back, a cold shoulder, if you will.

MAN: We are not for sale.

STEPHANIE SY: Amid widespread protests from# everyday Greenlanders like Casper Frank Moe.. a tour operator in the capital nook.

CASPER FRANK MOELLER, CEO, Raw Arctic:# Everybody's welcome, also the Americans,## also Trump, but it needs to be on the circumstance# of the Greenlanders that they will.. sovereign state, as Greenland becoming# independent, being their own country.

STEPHANIE SY: Denmark's prime minister# reiterated her country's position.

METTE FREDERIKSEN, Prime Minister of Denmark# (through translator): We would really like to## work together with the Americans on defense#.. we want that in Europe, and, of# course, we also want that when it## comes to the High North.

But Greenland# belongs to the Greenlandic people.

STEPHANIE SY: But the vice president## made the case that Denmark has treated# Greenlan.. J.D.

VANCE: Our message to Denmark is# very simple.

You have not done a good## job by the people of Greenland.

You# have underinvested in the people of## Greenland and you have underinvested in the# security architecture of this incredible,## beautiful landmass filled with# incredible people.

That has to change.

STEPHANIE SY: In Washington today,## President Trump doubled down on his# commitment to gain the territory.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: We need Greenland, very importantly,## for international security.

We# have to have Greenland.

It's not## a question of, do you think we# can do without it?

We can't.

STEPHANIE SY: The Trump administration's moves# have become a rallying cry for a unified front## in Greenland, which today announced a coalition# government of its four main political parties.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the new prime minister,## said he hopes to see dialogue between# Greenland and the U.S. going forward.

JENS-FREDERIK NIELSEN, Prime Minister of Greenland# (through translator): The first thing we do is## engage in dialogue with our closest allies.

Now# we h.. and it will start immediately.

STEPHANIE SY: From Europe,# some pointed words of support.

European Commission President Ursula von der# Leyen congratulated Greenland on the coalition## government, writing: "You deserve partners# who respect you and treat you as equals."

Vance's visit highlights the strategic importance## of Greenland and the wider Arctic.# U.S. adversaries, including Russia,## are watching developments closely.

Yesterday,# Russian President Vladimir Putin weighed in.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President (through# translator): It is deeply mistaken to believe## that these are some kind of extravagant# talks of the new American administration,## nothing of the sort.

We are talking about serious# plans on the American side regarding Greenland.

STEPHANIE SY: And while the Russians are# augmenting forces in the arctic in response## to the Americans, it's the U.S. face-off with a# long-held NATO ally Denmark that is alarming many.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Stephanie Sy.