Former Vice President Mike Pence is walking a delicate line on President Donald Trump's renewed push to acquire Greenland. He supports the goal but worries about how we're going about it.

The Arctic Security Argument

In a CNN interview on Sunday, Pence made the case that acquiring Greenland isn't some wild real estate fantasy—it's about national security in the Arctic. He pointed out that the idea has historical roots, noting that Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of State first floated the concept of purchasing Greenland.

Pence even shared a personal connection to the issue. Back in 2019, after Trump initially proposed acquiring Greenland, Pence traveled to Iceland to argue for U.S. national security interests in the region. The concern then, as now, centered on China and Russia's increasing presence in Arctic territory.

"I really want to support the president's objective here….we have an absolute national security interest in controlling and I think ultimately owning Greenland," Pence stated.

But here's where things get complicated. While Pence backs the strategic objective, he's less enthusiastic about the tactical approach. He acknowledged that the current strategy—particularly the threat of imposing tariffs on Denmark and other NATO allies—could seriously damage U.S. relationships within the alliance. His preferred path? Use diplomacy and investment strategies rather than economic coercion.

Trump, meanwhile, isn't showing much patience. On Sunday, he criticized Denmark for failing to address the "Russian threat" in the region over the past two decades. His conclusion? "Now it is time, and it will be done!!!"

The Blowback Is Already Building

Trump's Greenland ambitions are creating diplomatic and economic headaches. The European Union is reportedly mulling trade retaliation and other countermeasures in response to U.S. tariff threats.

The potential fallout goes beyond trade disputes. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) has warned that any U.S. military action to seize Greenland would essentially be a declaration of war against NATO, potentially shattering the alliance. Pence's comments highlight just how real these risks are.

Then there's the money question. Experts have raised serious doubts about whether acquiring Greenland makes economic sense, warning it could cost the U.S. nearly $1 trillion over 20 years with limited financial returns.

Yes, Greenland has valuable critical minerals and oil reserves. But here's the catch: experts say those resources are cheaper to extract from other locations, including within the United States itself. The White House estimates the purchase price alone at around $700 billion, with hundreds of billions more required for infrastructure development.

So we're looking at a massive investment for resources we could access more cheaply elsewhere, wrapped in a diplomatic crisis that could fracture our most important military alliance. That's the debate Pence just waded into—supporting the strategic vision while questioning the execution.