Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to travel to Greenland this week, joining his wife Usha Vance on a visit to the massive island. President Donald Trump has expressed interest in the US acquiring Greenland, which has caused concern among Greenland’s leaders.
Trump’s offer to purchase Greenland from Denmark has been met with resistance, particularly since he has not ruled out military action or economic coercion. This has led to increased tensions between the US and Greenland.
Vance announced his decision to join his wife on the trip via X on Tuesday afternoon. The visit was initially intended to be a cultural exchange, with Usha Vance and their son attending a dogsled race. However, the trip has taken on a more significant dimension with Vance’s decision to join.
In a video announcement, Vance explained his reasoning for joining the trip. “There was so much excitement around Usha’s visit to Greenland this Friday that I decided I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself, and so I’m going to join her,” he said.
Vance also plans to visit the northwest coast of Greenland, where he will meet with members of the Space Force and assess the security situation. “I’m going to join some of our guardians in the Space Force… and also just check on what’s going on with the security there,” he added.
The Vice President emphasized that the US and Denmark have neglected Greenland for too long. “We think we can take things in a different direction, so I’m going to go check it out,” he said.
Greenland’s leaders have expressed concerns about the visit, characterizing it as an attempt to intimidate them. Outgoing Prime Minister Múte B. Egede stated, “We are now at a level where this cannot in any way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician’s wife. The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us.”
Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen welcomed the decision to cancel the visit to Greenlandic society, instead opting to visit the US military base at Pituffik. “I think it’s very positive the Americans cancelled their visit to the Greenlandic society. Instead, they will visit their own base… and we have nothing against that,” he said.
The trip has also drawn attention to Greenland’s strategic importance, with its rich mineral resources and location making it a crucial spot for US military interests. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are scheduled to visit a US military base in Greenland, highlighting the country’s growing significance in US foreign policy.
