A planned goodwill visit by Usha Vance to Greenland has sparked diplomatic tensions, with the island’s prime minister accusing the U.S. of aggressive posturing. The Second Lady’s itinerary includes cultural events like the famed Avannaata Qimussers dogsled race, but Greenlandic officials suspect ulterior motives.
The backlash follows inflammatory remarks from her husband, Vice President JD Vance, who recently declared Denmark unfit to govern Greenland. His comments revived memories of the Trump administration’s attempted purchase of the territory, now apparently still on the Republican agenda. “If we need greater territorial interest in Greenland, that’s what President Trump will do,” Vance told Fox News.
Prime Minister Múte B. Egede sees the upcoming visit as problematic, particularly with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accompanying the delegation. “This isn’t cultural exchange – it’s muscle-flexing,” Egede told local media. The leader expressed frustration that diplomatic protests have failed to curb American ambitions toward the resource-rich Arctic region.
As U.S. interest in Greenland’s strategic location grows, this ostensibly friendly visit risks deepening a geopolitical rift between the allies.
