Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized the United States for applying undue pressure on Greenland, denoting it as “unacceptable” ahead of an unexpected visit by a prominent U.S. delegation to the semi-autonomous Danish territory. The delegation, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, his wife Usha Vance, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, is scheduled to visit an American military base in Greenland this week.
Vance announced on a social media platform that he would be visiting Greenland on Friday, with his wife’s plans to observe a dog sled race being canceled in favor of a visit to the Pituffik Space Base. The primary objective of the visit, as stated by Vance, is to assess the situation in Greenland and enhance the security of its residents, emphasizing its significance in safeguarding global security.
In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s reiterated proposal for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, Frederiksen reiterated that the decision on Greenland’s future rests with its people, rejecting the idea of external pressure on Greenland and Denmark. Greenland’s acting head of government, Múte Egede, criticized the visit as a “provocation,” coinciding with crucial government coalition talks and municipal elections in the upcoming week.
The visit follows Donald Trump Jr.’s prior visit to Greenland, where discussions of annexation and urging Greenlanders to join the U.S. were prominent. Despite polls indicating strong opposition among Greenlanders to joining the U.S., some individuals within Greenland have expressed a desire for change.
While some individuals welcomed the U.S. delegation’s visit as a gesture of respect, Frederiksen highlighted the visit as a strategic move by the U.S. to assert dominance over Greenland. She emphasized Denmark’s support for cooperation with the U.S., citing existing agreements permitting U.S. military presence in Greenland with notification to Denmark and Greenland.
Frederiksen emphasized the importance of support from allies against U.S. pressure, noting the backing from Nordic countries and the EU. Analysts have expressed concerns over the Trump administration’s approach towards Greenland, warning that it could potentially weaken America’s position and harm long-term interests by alienating allies.
