US Vice President JD Vance and his wife are set to visit the American military base in Greenland on Friday, but their trip has been significantly scaled back following an outcry from both Greenlanders and Danes. The original itinerary, planned without prior consultation with local authorities, sparked widespread criticism and diplomatic tensions.
Their revised one-day visit to Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in northwest Greenland comes at a time of heightened strain between the US and Denmark, a longstanding NATO ally. The tensions were reignited by US President Donald Trump, who has once again suggested that the United States should take control of Greenland, a move strongly opposed by both Copenhagen and Nuuk (Greenland’s capital).
A trip to avoid diplomatic pitfalls
The US delegation’s decision to limit the visit to Pituffik reduces the risk of breaching diplomatic norms by sending high-level officials to a foreign territory without an official invitation. It also minimises potential confrontations between the Vances and Greenlandic residents angered by Trump’s renewed push to annex the island.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had previously condemned the visit’s original three-day itinerary, calling it “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland. Speaking to Danish public broadcaster DR on Thursday, she reiterated Denmark’s stance:
“We really want to work with the Americans on defence and security in the kingdom. But Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
The diplomatic backlash initially prompted Usha Vance, the Vice President’s wife, to alter her own plans. She had originally announced a solo trip to attend the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut. However, JD Vance later decided to join her, only for both to cancel the Sisimiut stop entirely following protests from both Greenland and Denmark. Instead, the couple will solely visit the US military outpost at Pituffik.
Trump’s Greenland ambitions resurface
Despite the diplomatic pushback, Trump once again asserted his desire for the US to take control of Greenland. In an interview on Wednesday, when asked whether Greenlanders wanted to become US citizens, he responded:
“I don’t know, but I think we have to do it, and we have to convince them.”
Trump has long viewed Greenland as a strategic and economic asset for the US, given its nautical gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic. Both China and Russia have sought greater access to Greenland’s waterways and mineral resources, making it a key point of interest in global geopolitical competition.
During his first term, Trump floated the outrageous idea of purchasing Greenland outright, only to be met with firm rejections from Denmark and Greenland itself. Frederiksen had dismissed the proposal as “absurd”, and Greenlandic politicians continue to assert that the island is not for sale.
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Vance’s strained relationship with European allies
Vice President JD Vance has repeatedly criticised the reliance of European allies on US military support, further straining relations with Denmark and other NATO partners. His combative stance has raised concerns about the reliability of the United States as an ally, particularly at a time when Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has made European security a pressing issue.
While the Biden administration had worked to repair relations with Europe, the Trump-Vance White House appears to be undermining traditional alliances, with Greenland emerging as a major flashpoint.
Protests planned against US pressure on Greenland
In response to the growing tensions, opponents of Trump’s push for control over Greenland have announced a demonstration in front of the US embassy in Copenhagen on Saturday. Danish public broadcaster DR reported on Thursday that protesters will speak out against American pressure on Greenland and Denmark, as well as against “unwanted visits” from US officials.
With growing public frustration and diplomatic tensions rising, the US visit to Greenland may only serve to deepen the divide between Washington, Copenhagen, and Nuuk. As Trump and his administration continue their aggressive pursuit of Greenland, the people of the Arctic island remain firm in their stance: Greenland’s future will be decided by Greenlanders alone.
