Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute B. Egede has slammed a planned visit by US officials, including second lady Usha Vance, calling it “highly aggressive” and accusing Washington of trying to exert power over the autonomous Danish territory. The trip comes amid heightened tensions following President Donald Trump’s repeated vows to annex Greenland, despite firm opposition from both Greenland and Denmark.
Vance, wife of US Vice President JD Vance, is set to attend Greenland’s national dogsled race this week in what the White House describes as a cultural visit. National security adviser Mike Waltz is also expected to travel to the island, a move Egede strongly criticized. “What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us,” he told newspaper Sermitsiaq, warning that Waltz’s presence could fuel Trump’s push for annexation.
Trump, however, insists the visit is about diplomacy, not provocation. “They’re calling us. We’re not calling them. And we were invited over there,” he claimed on Monday. The president suggested that many Greenlanders welcome US involvement, saying, “We’re dealing with a lot of people from Greenland that would like to see something happen with respect to them being properly protected and properly taken care of.” He added, “I think Greenland is going to be something that maybe is in our future.”
Greenland, which holds vast reserves of rare earth minerals, has become a geopolitical battleground as the US, Russia, and China compete for Arctic influence. Trump has openly floated the idea of taking the island through economic pressure or force, declaring earlier this month, “I think we’re going to get it one way or the other.”
Egede, who has advocated for Greenlandic independence, accused Trump of ignoring the island’s sovereignty. His likely successor, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, also condemned the US visit, calling its timing “a lack of respect” amid ongoing coalition negotiations following Greenland’s recent elections.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen acknowledged concerns over the visit, stressing that while Denmark values US cooperation, it must respect “the fundamental rules of sovereignty.”
A recent poll found that 85% of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the US, with nearly half seeing Trump’s interest as a direct threat.
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