As Vice President JD Vance prepares to visit Greenland, his itinerary has sparked significant backlash from locals and the Danish government. Scheduled for arrival on Friday, Vance will be the highest-ranking American official to reach the island, yet the welcome will be far from warm. Greenland’s government noted that no invitation was extended for this trip, significantly influenced by President Trump’s past comments expressing interest in acquiring the island.
Originally, the White House planned a more extensive visit, including an engagement in a renowned dog sled race and visits to various cultural sites to foster relationships between the U.S. and Greenland. However, protests were poised to greet the Vice President upon his arrival, prompting a reduction in the scope of his trip. The event organizers of the dog sled race evidently stated they had never invited Usha Vance, the Second Lady, to attend, leading to further controversy.
While a spokeswoman from Ms. Vance's office refuted this claim, asserting that they had received several invitations, the backlash led to the White House opting for a visit strictly limited to the Pituffik Space Base, a U.S. missile defense installation located significantly away from the planned protests.
Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark for over 300 years, has seen its leaders reflect an unwillingness to engage with the current U.S. administration's diplomatic overtures. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen acknowledged the challenging situation surrounding Vance's visit, highlighting the complexities of U.S.-Greenland relations in light of historical events and local sentiment.
