Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that the planned visit to Greenland by a US delegation is a pressure on the island’s authorities. She told reporters from TV2 and Danmarks Radio on 25 March.
“When a visit takes place in this way and Greenland’s politicians clearly state that they do not want this visit, it obviously cannot be interpreted as a sign of respect,” she said.
Frederiksen emphasised that the trip “cannot be seen in isolation” from statements by US leaders about their intention to take control of the island, which is part of Denmark.
At the same time, the U.S. side calls the trip unofficial. Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, said the purpose of the visit was to “better familiarise ourselves with the culture, history and people of Greenland”.
Earlier, the White House said that the wife of US Vice President Usha Vance will visit Greenland on 27-29 March. According to The New York Times, along with her will arrive on the island National Security Advisor Mike Walz and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who plan to inspect the US military base on the island.
The day before, Donald Trump told reporters that the visit was a “gesture of friendship” and that an invitation had been issued – without specifying by whom.
The Greenland government denied Trump’s claim that a delegation from the United States was allegedly invited to visit the island.
According to a post on the government’s official Facebook page, no official or private invitation was issued. The process of forming a new coalition government is now underway in Greenland, and the interim administration has called on all states to respect the transition period.
Trump has repeatedly favoured US control of Greenland, justifying it on national and international security grounds. In January, Greenland’s capital Nuuk was visited by his son Donald Trump Jr.
Greenland-autonomous territory within Denmark with extensive self-government. The US has a strategic interest in the island, particularly because of the Pitufik military base and its geopolitical location in the Arctic.