PM describes Trump delegation’s visit to Greenland as ‘highly aggressive’
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede has labelled this week’s planned visit by a high-profile US delegation as “ highly aggressive”.
Usha Vance, wife of US Vice-President JD Vance, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will fly to Greenland this week to visit an American military base and watch a dogsled race as President Donald Trump promotes the idea of a US annexation of the strategic, semi-autonomous Danish territory.
“What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland?” he said “The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“His mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump’s mission — and the pressure will increase.
“We are now at a point where it can no longer be described as an innocent visit from a politician’s spouse. The international community must now react.
”If they do not speak out loudly about how the USA is treating Greenland, the situation will escalate day by day, and the American aggression will increase.”
Mr Waltz and Mr Wright plan to visit the Pituffik space base, the US military base in Greenland. The White House said they will get briefings from US service members there. Mr Wright’s presence is seen as particularly provocative due to the US administration’s interest in Greenland’s minerals and resources.
They will then join Mrs Vance to visit historical sites and attend the national dogsled race.
Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the US team is “confident that this visit presents an opportunity to build on partnerships that respects Greenland’s self determination and advances economic co-operation”.
“This is a visit to learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people and to attend a dogsled race the United States is proud to sponsor, plain and simple,” Hughes said.
Mr Trump has made US annexation of Greenland a major talking point since taking office in January.
Greenland’s strategic location and rich mineral resources could benefit the US It lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the US ballistic missile warning system.
The Governments of both Greenland and Denmark have voiced opposition to such a move.
The Greenlandic Government, which is in a caretaker period after a March 11 general election won by a party that favours a slow approach to independence from Denmark, did not reply to requests for comments.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a written comment reacting to news of the visit that “this is something we take seriously”.
Denmark wants to co-operate with the US, but it should be co-operation based on “the fundamental rules of sovereignty”, she said.
She added that dialogue with the US regarding Greenland would take place in close co-ordination with the Danish government and the future Greenlandic government.
