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Vice President JD Vance announced on Tuesday that he would be accompanying his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, on a visit to Greenland this week. His decision follows initial plans for Usha Vance to undertake a cultural visit to the Danish territory, a move that had met with a cool reception from Greenlandic officials.
Prospects of Annexing Greenland
The visit comes as President Donald Trump has continued to express interest in the United States annexing Greenland—a prospect that both Greenland and Denmark have firmly rejected. Despite these tensions, the White House confirmed that the Vances would visit U.S. service members at Pituffik Space Base on Friday, where they will receive a briefing on Arctic security concerns.
In a video posted on social media, Vance underscored the importance of the trip.
“I just want to check out what’s going on with the security there,” Vance said. “A lot of other countries have threatened Greenland, have threatened to use its territories and its waterways to threaten the United States, to threaten Canada, and of course, to threaten the people of Greenland. So, we’re going to check out how things are going there.”
Greenland Pushes Back Against U.S. Involvement
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede has strongly pushed back against what he perceives as U.S. interference in the territory’s affairs. His criticism came after Usha Vance and other U.S. officials announced their plans to visit Greenland.
In a Facebook post, Egede made it clear that there would be no formal meetings between Greenlandic government officials and the U.S. delegation. His statement reflects Greenland’s broader efforts to assert its autonomy and resist external political influence.
The renewed attention on Greenland began on Sunday when Usha Vance revealed her plans to travel to the territory with one of her young sons. Her itinerary originally included visits to cultural and historical sites, as well as attendance at Greenland’s national dogsled race. The White House had also announced that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz would visit a U.S. military base on the island.
However, not all Greenlandic leaders welcomed the visit. Their skepticism culminated in Egede’s public statement reaffirming that no formal government meetings would take place with the U.S. delegation.
Trump Defends Visit, Denies Confrontation
Amid the controversy surrounding the visit, President Trump dismissed concerns that the planned trip was confrontational. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Monday, he framed the U.S. engagement as an act of goodwill.
“This is friendliness, not provocation,” Trump stated. “We’re dealing with a lot of people from Greenland who would like to see something happen with respect to them being properly protected and properly taken care of. They’re calling us. We’re not calling them.”
His comments signal an ongoing U.S. interest in Greenland’s strategic value, particularly as Arctic geopolitics gain prominence.
Vance’s Office Criticizes Denmark and Past U.S. Administrations
On Tuesday, the Vice President’s office released a statement defending the administration’s increased focus on Greenland, arguing that Trump is “rightly changing course” in prioritizing security in the region. The statement also criticized both Denmark and previous U.S. administrations for what it described as “neglect and inaction.”
“The strategic partnership between the United States and Greenland has long played a vital role in our national and economic security,” the statement read. “During World War Two, the United States established over a dozen military bases in Greenland to defend the North Atlantic from Nazi incursion. During the Cold War, the United States committed additional resources to Greenland to defend against Soviet missile attacks.”
Also Read: Cultural Exchange Or Annexation Move? Why Is Second Lady Usha Vance Visiting Greenland
