JD Vance lands in Greenland, new PM says visit sign of ‘lack of respect’ | World News
US Vice President JD Vance landed in Greenland on Friday amid renewed calls from President Donald Trump for Washington to take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.The visit to the US military base at Pituffik, located in northern Greenland, came just hours after a new broad government coalition was formed in the capital, Nuuk, with leaders reaffirming their ties to Denmark for now.
Greenland’s new Prime Miner Jens-Frederik Nielsen criticised the visit, calling it a “lack of respect” and urging political unity in the face of “pressure from outside.”
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“I think it is a shame, but now we have a government that needs to get to work, and that will start immediately,” he said.
In response to the tensions, Denmark’s King Frederik reaffirmed his support for Greenland, posting on social media: “We live in an altered reality. There should be no doubt that my love for Greenland and my connectedness to the people of Greenland are intact.”
The US delegation included Vance’s wife Usha, national security adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Initially, the trip was set to feature a visit Vance’s wife and Waltz to a dog-sled race on the island, despite neither being invited authorities in Greenland or Denmark. However, public outrage and protests in both Nuuk and Copenhagen forced the delegation to limit their visit to the military base, avoiding public engagements.
Under a 1951 agreement, the US is entitled to access its base at Pituffik whenever it chooses, provided it notifies Greenland and Denmark in advance. The base, strategically positioned along the shortest route between Europe and North America, is a critical part of the US ballic missile warning system.Story continues below this ad
However, Trump, who previously expressed interest in purchasing Greenland during his first term, reiterated his stance on Wednesday. “So, I think we’ll go as far as we have to go. We need Greenland and the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark,” he said.
‘Unacceptable’
The island, which is geographically closer to New York than to Copenhagen, is known for its rich deposits of minerals, oil, and natural gas. However, development has been slow, and US investment in the mining sector has been limited, with most companies operating in Greenland being Australian, Canadian, or British. A White House official has stated that Greenland has a substantial supply of rare earth minerals that could be crucial for the future of the US economy.
Following the US visit, Greenland’s new government has emphasised the need for national unity. “At a time when we as a people are under pressure, we must stand together,” Nielsen said at a press conference. His pro-business party, the Democrats, which advocates for gradual independence from Denmark, emerged as the largest party in Greenland’s March 11 election.
Danish Prime Miner Mette Frederiksen, who had previously called the initial US visit plans “unacceptable,” congratulated Greenland’s new government, writing on Instagram: “I look forward to close cooperation in an unnecessarily conflict-ridden time.”
