In a recent development, Vice President JD Vance announced he would accompany his wife on her upcoming visit to Greenland, highlighting concerns over global security. Vance shared in an online video that their trip aims to bolster security in Greenland, which he considers vital for global safety.
President Donald Trump previously stirred tensions in Europe by proposing U.S. control over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory under Denmark, known for its rich mineral resources. Greenland holds significant strategic importance due to its location, serving as a nautical passage to the Arctic and North Atlantic, places of interest for China and Russia due to its resources and strategic positions.
By opting to visit a U.S. military base in Greenland, Vice President Vance avoids diplomatic strains that might have arisen from uninvited delegations. However, Vance has also faced criticism from long-standing European allies for his disapproving rhetoric concerning their reliance on U.S. military support, which has raised questions about America’s steadfastness.
There has been increasing unease from Greenland and Denmark about the visit, with the Greenland government taking to Facebook to clarify that no official or private invitations had been extended. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark expressed concerns about external pressures on national broadcasts.
From her office, it was announced that second lady Usha Vance planned to leave for Greenland on Thursday, returning Saturday, initially intending to focus on Greenlandic cultural sites. However, the vice president’s last-minute inclusion has shifted the focus toward discussions about national security.
Vance stated that he wanted to join his wife on this venture to avoid missing out on the experience. He intends to check in on a U.S. Space Force installation on Greenland’s northwest coast. He asserted that Greenland and neighboring territories face threats not just from the U.S., but from other nations as well.
Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, was initially expected to accompany U.S. officials to Greenland, but his name didn’t appear in the final list following Vance’s confirmation. The White House has not clarified if this change was linked to Waltz’s unintentional inclusion of a journalist in a secure conversation about a Yemen military strike.
Vice President Vance accused leaders from Denmark and North America of paying inadequate attention to Greenland over many years. Meanwhile, Usha Vance’s previously scheduled visit to Greenland’s historical and cultural events, like the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race, has been replaced by a tour of the Pituffik Space Base.
Dwayne Ryan Menezes, from the Polar Research & Policy Initiative, cautioned that the Trump administration’s current approach towards Greenland could have negative repercussions. Menezes argued that for President Trump to fully capitalize on Greenland’s strategic value, he should foster stronger alliances rather than undermining them.
Despite the objections voiced by Greenlandic and Danish officials, Marc Jacobsen from the Royal Danish Defense College confirmed that Vance can legally visit the base due to an agreement from 1951 between Denmark and the U.S. He noted that the controversy surrounds the timing, as Greenland is currently without a stable government.
Past reports of Trump considering purchasing Greenland, rejected firmly by Danish authorities and Greenlanders alike, resonate as part of a larger policy dubbed “territorial expansion.” This vision encompasses controversial ideas, such as incorporating Canada as a state, regaining control of the Panama Canal, or establishing a U.S. presence in the Gaza Strip.