US Vice President JD Vance to Visit Greenland Amid Tensions Over Trump’s Territorial Ambitions
US Vice President JD Vance announced Tuesday that he will accompany his wife, Usha Vance, on her scheduled trip to Greenland this Friday. The visit comes as tensions escalate over former President Donald Trump’s renewed push to bring the Arctic territory under US control.
Vance, who has emerged as Trump’s primary advocate on foreign policy matters, stated in a video announcement that while joining US Space Force personnel stationed in Greenland, he would also assess the region’s security situation.
“There was so much excitement around Usha’s visit that I decided I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself,” Vance quipped. His statement followed sharp criticism from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who characterized the Second Lady’s planned visit as exerting “unacceptable pressure” on both Greenland and Denmark.
The White House had previously disclosed that Usha Vance would attend Greenland’s national dogsled race in Sisimiut from Thursday through Saturday. The event has reportedly received significant sponsorship from the US consulate in Nuuk, according to Greenlandic media.
The diplomatic visit occurs against a backdrop of contentious geopolitical maneuvering. Since returning to office in January, Trump has repeatedly advocated for US acquisition of Greenland, citing national security imperatives, while refusing to dismiss potential military options. Vance echoed these sentiments, warning that foreign powers might exploit the territory to threaten North American security.
“Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate Greenland’s security,” Vance declared, adding that successive US and Danish administrations had neglected the region’s strategic importance.
The trip coincides with reported visits by other senior US officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, though these have not been officially confirmed.
Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory rich in untapped mineral resources (though currently prohibiting oil and uranium extraction), finds itself at the center of great-power competition in the Arctic. Its geographic position between North America and Europe has drawn increasing attention from the US, China, and Russia as climate change opens new sea routes.
The high-profile American visits have sparked diplomatic friction during a delicate political transition in Greenland, where parties continue negotiating to form a government following March 11 elections. Frederiksen emphasized the impropriety of mixing private and official diplomacy, telling reporters: “You can’t organize a private visit with official representatives of another country.”
The developments underscore Greenland’s growing geopolitical significance and the Trump administration’s unorthodox approach to territorial expansion, which has recently included musings about annexing Canada as the “51st state.”
