{beacon} Presented by Boeing — {beacon}   Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  Vance rules out military force for Greenland Vice President Vance in a speech from a U.S. base in Greenland said Friday the U.S. is not likely to use military force in President Trump’s pursuit of taking over the territory. © Getty Vance also said the U.S. respects Greenland’s sovereignty, despite Trump’s repeated comments that America would take ownership of the Arctic island away from Denmark.   “We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary,” Vance said in response to a reporter’s question on whether there are military plans to take over the island.    “What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark, and then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there.”   Vance made his remarks from the Pituffik Space Base, an American military installation that is a critical front line in missile defense, missile warning and space surveillance. It is located in the northwestern part of Greenland.   Trump has repeatedly discussed acquiring Greenland, arguing it would strengthen U.S. security and combat threats ranging from Russia’s access to the Arctic to China’s attempts to make inroads in the region.    “We need Greenland for international security. We have to have Greenland,” Trump said in remarks from the White House on Friday.   Vance shifted attention to Denmark’s responsibility for Greenland’s security, saying that the Danes “have not done their job in keeping this area safe.”   Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which criticized Vance’s trip to the island and has repeatedly said the territory is not for sale.   Vance said the U.S. had no plans to expand its military presence on the island and suggested that any change in security in Greenland would be done in consultation with its capital Nuuk.    The Pituffik visit was arranged after the White House decided to cancel a “heritage” tour of the island for second lady Usha Vance, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright amid intense backlash from officials in Nuuk and Copenhagen — and an apparent cold shoulder from Greenlanders.    Read the full report at TheHill.com.   Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:   Hillary Clinton: Signal group chat ‘dangerous’ and ‘just dumb’ Former secretary of State and one-time Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton blasted the Trump administration’s Signal app leak as “dangerous” and “just dumb” in a New York Times opinion piece published Friday. “In a dangerous and complex world, it’s not enough to be strong. You must also be smart,” Clinton wrote in her op-ed on top-level Trump officials’ decision to …  Full Story   Majority of voters, plurality of GOP say Hegseth should resign: Poll A majority of Americans, including the largest share of Republican voters, say in a new survey that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should resign after the revelation that he shared details of a forthcoming U.S. airstrike in an unsecured Signal group chat whose members included The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief. The J.L. 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The move will fully absorb all remaining USAID functions into the State Department … Full Story   On Tap Monday  Events in and around the defense world:  Hudson Institute will hold a talk on "Fully Exploiting Autonomous Military Systems," at 9 a.m. Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will discuss "Setting the Nuclear Deterrence Record Straight: Commanders’ Perspectives," at 1 p.m   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets: Hegseth tells Philippines the Trump administration will ramp up deterrence against China threat (The Associated Press) Visiting Greenland, Vance finds the weather and the reception chilly, (The New York Times)   Trending Today  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Trump gets $100M deal with Skadden law firm amid pressure campaign President Trump on Friday announced a deal with the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom to provide at least $100 million in pro bono … Read more MAHA will make groceries unaffordable for many Will no one be honest about the trade-offs? 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