'Highly aggressive': Greenland leaders blast planned visit by Usha Vance, US officials
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede criticized an upcoming trip to the Danish territory by Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, and other senior U.S. officials as a "provocation" and "highly aggressive."
The second lady was expected to travel to Greenland on Thursday alongside Mike Waltz, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The White House said she would watch the island's national dogsled race and "celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity."
Waltz and Wright plan to visit the Pituffik space base, a U.S. military facility in remote northern Greenland.
If the visit goes ahead, it will be the second time a high-profile American delegation has visited the semi-autonomous Danish territory since Trump has suggested the U.S. should annex Greenland.
Egede, who is Greenland's outgoing prime minister, said his caretaker government would not meet with the delegation. He raised particular objection to Waltz’s visit. Denmark also voiced opposition to the trip.
"What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us," Egede said an interview Sunday with the Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq. "His mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump’s mission − and the pressure will increase.
"Until recently, we could trust the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we enjoyed working closely," Egede told the local newspaper. "But that time is over."
The Greenlandic government, known as the Naalakkersuisut, is in a caretaker period after a general election won by the Democrats, a pro-business party that favors a slow approach to independence from Denmark.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Democrats, said the visit by the U.S. delegation during coalition talks and with municipal elections due next week "once again shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people."
Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the "visit presents an opportunity to build on partnerships that respect Greenland's self-determination and advances economic cooperation."
Trump has made annexation of Greenland a major talking point since taking office for a second time. Greenland's strategic location and rich mineral resources could benefit the U.S. Greenland lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America and could prove vital for the U.S. ballistic missile warning system.
The governments of both Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly rejected and criticized Trump's annexation talk.
Reacting to news of the visit, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said it was "something we take seriously." She said Denmark wants to cooperate with the U.S., but based on "the fundamental rules of sovereignty."
Donald Trump Jr. traveled to the resource-rich Arctic island's capital Nuuk for a private visit in January. Trump's eldest son spent the day handing out red MAGA caps, filming a documentary and speaking to residents.
In a Fox News interview earlier this year, Vice President Vance raised doubts about Denmark’s stewardship over Greenland. Vance suggested the Scandinavian country was not a good ally and accused it of restricting U.S. access to "sea lanes" used by China and Russia. The Danish government denies this.
"If that means we need to take more territorial interest in Greenland, that is what President Trump is going to do, because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us, he cares about putting the interests of America’s citizens first," Vance said in the interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo.
Contributing: Reuters