The visit of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Usha to Greenland has sparked strong criticism from both local authorities and Denmark.
The couple’s plane landed at the U.S. military base “Pituffik” in the northwest of the island, rather than in the capital, Nuuk, where their arrival was deemed unwelcome. The Greenlandic government had previously emphasized that “no one was invited—neither in a private nor an official capacity.”
Vance’s joke, posted before departure, caused particular outrage: “Since everyone is so worked up about Usha’s trip, I thought—why not have some fun myself and go along?” Given former President Donald Trump’s past statements about potentially purchasing Greenland, these remarks only heightened tensions.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte B. Egede stated that the island would not tolerate repeated suggestions of U.S. control: “We cannot accept recurring statements about annexation and control over Greenland.”
Vance justified his visit by citing the need to assess the base’s security, claiming that “many countries pose threats to Greenland, its territory, and its maritime routes.” However, Greenlandic authorities dismissed this reasoning as a mere pretext. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the U.S. actions “unacceptable pressure” and stressed that Greenland’s interests were being disregarded.
Under mounting criticism, the U.S. delegation shortened their stay on the island to just one day. Usha Vance also withdrew from participating in a dog sledding competition.
