Greenland Pushes Back as Trump Revives U.S. Takeover Talks Ahead of Vance’s Visit
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is set to visit Greenland on Friday amid renewed efforts by President Donald Trump to assert American control over the island. The trip, which was originally planned as a cultural visit by Usha Vance, wife of Vice-President JD Vance, has since been refocused on a stop at the U.S. military base at Pituffik. The shift in plans follows backlash from both Greenland and Denmark, with Greenland’s acting Prime Minister Mute Egede calling the visit a "provocation." Meanwhile, Trump has doubled down on his interest in Greenland, saying, "We need Greenland, and the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark."
The timing of Vance’s visit coincides with Greenland’s formation of a new coalition government, which includes all but one elected party. The coalition is seen as a move to present a united front against Trump’s persistent claims on the island. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who is likely to be Greenland’s next prime minister, reaffirmed the country’s independence, calling Trump’s stance "a threat to our political independence." Some locals in Nuuk have also expressed frustration, with filmmaker Tungutaq Larsen stating, "I am a human. Humans are not for sale. We are not for sale."
While Denmark has cautiously welcomed the decision to limit the visit to the U.S. base, Trump’s continued rhetoric suggests the issue is far from settled as political analysts suggest that the U.S. may use diplomatic and economic pressure to push its agenda. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has noted that Arctic tensions are rising but dismissed any direct Russian involvement in Trump’s ambitions for Greenland.
