King Frederik X of Denmark arrived in Greenland on Tuesday, marking the start of his visit to the semiautonomous territory, which has recently been under the spotlight due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in its strategic position in the Arctic.
The monarch’s arrival in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, comes on the heels of a diplomatic trip by the newly elected Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen to Copenhagen. King Frederik, greeted by applause, was seen wearing a jacket featuring the emblems of both the Danish and Greenlandic flags as he stepped off the plane.
In an interview with Danish broadcaster TV2, Frederik clarified that he was not on any specific mission, expressing his joy at visiting Greenland. Prime Minister Nielsen supported this sentiment, emphasizing the enduring affection the Danish royal family has for Greenland and noting the king’s popularity among the island’s residents.
Originally, the flight was set for Monday, but inclement weather necessitated a delay. During his stay, Frederik is scheduled to engage with the newly formed Greenlandic government and participate in a traditional “kaffemik,” a social gathering centered around coffee, to connect with the local community.
However, the same adverse weather conditions led to the unfortunate cancellation of a planned visit to Station Nord, the island’s farthest north military and scientific outpost. Additionally, inclement weather caused the cancellation of an opportunity to meet with a specialized dogsled unit from the Danish special forces, which operates in the remote northeast regions of Greenland.
This visit follows King Frederik’s trip to Greenland last July, shortly after he ascended to the Danish throne following his mother’s abdication. The current visit coincides with a recent journey by U.S. Vice President JD Vance to a secluded U.S. military installation on the island, where he criticized Denmark for what he described as insufficient investment.
President Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland has been driven by the island’s abundance of minerals and its strategic significance to U.S. national security. Despite the alliance between the United States and Denmark under NATO, Trump has not excluded the possibility of using military means to gain control of Greenland.