VP Vance Tours U.S. Base After Greenland Backlash/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Vice President JD Vance and his wife will visit a U.S. military base in Greenland following a diplomatic spat over an uncoordinated trip. The visit was shortened amid criticism from Denmark and Greenland over Trump’s renewed interest in controlling the territory. Greenlandic leaders and residents pushed back strongly, asserting the island is not for sale.
Vance Greenland Visit Quick Looks
- Vance’s visit scaled back to one-day tour of U.S. base
- Original itinerary lacked diplomatic coordination, prompting uproar
- Trump reignites calls for U.S. control of Greenland
- Danish and Greenlandic leaders emphasize territorial sovereignty
- Public in Nuuk expresses fatigue with U.S. interest in island
- Visit comes amid geopolitical competition over Arctic access
- Greenland forms new political coalition in response to Trump’s remarks
- Protest planned in Denmark over U.S. stance on Greenland
VP Vance Tours U.S. Base After Greenland Backlash
Deep Look
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife are set to visit an American military installation in Greenland on Friday, in a trip that has already stirred diplomatic friction between the United States and Denmark. The visit—now limited to a single day at the Pituffik Space Base—comes after backlash from Greenlandic and Danish officials over what was originally an uncoordinated, multi-day trip.
The controversy centers around the Trump administration’s renewed signals of interest in Greenland, a vast, mineral-rich island that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark but governed as a semi-autonomous territory. In recent remarks, President Donald Trump reiterated his desire for U.S. control over Greenland, saying,
“I think we have to do it, and we have to convince them,” despite widespread local opposition.
Vice President Vance’s visit, initially announced as a joint trip with his wife Usha to the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut, was scaled back following protests from both Greenlandic leaders and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Frederiksen called the original three-day itinerary “unacceptable pressure” and reminded Washington that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
In response to the escalating concerns, the Vances canceled all public appearances outside of Pituffik, a remote U.S. Space Force outpost on Greenland’s northwest coast. This adjustment avoids direct contact with local residents, many of whom are increasingly wary of American intentions.
“I feel like every day now is about Trump,” said Cora Høy, 22, a resident of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. “Of course Greenland is not for sale. It’s all a bit crazy.” Another resident, 30-year-old Inuk Kristensen, echoed that sentiment: “You don’t just come here and say you want to buy the place.”
The controversy has prompted a strong political response within Greenland. Four out of the five parties in Greenland’s parliament recently formed a new coalition, citing the need for unity in the face of renewed external pressure. Greenland’s leaders have repeatedly emphasized their right to self-determination and rejected any suggestions of annexation.
Strategically positioned between the Arctic and the North Atlantic, Greenland’s importance has grown amid rising geopolitical competition. Both China and Russia have shown increasing interest in the region’s waterways and untapped resources, making Greenland a focal point for global power dynamics. The U.S. has maintained a military presence at Pituffik for decades, viewing it as critical to North American defense.
During his first term, Trump floated the idea of purchasing Greenland, only to be rebuffed by Danish officials and Greenlanders alike. The revival of that proposal in 2025 has reignited tension and drawn renewed scrutiny to U.S. intentions in the Arctic.
Vice President Vance has previously criticized NATO allies for what he perceives as overreliance on American defense resources. His rhetoric has raised concerns among European partners about the reliability of U.S. commitments in the region.
Ahead of the scaled-down visit, China’s state media criticized the original itinerary, calling it another example of “U.S. disregard for sovereign diplomacy.” Meanwhile, Danish broadcaster DR reported that a protest against Trump’s Greenland ambitions is being planned for Saturday outside the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen.
While the Vances’ revised itinerary avoids direct engagement with the public, their presence in Greenland still serves as a reminder of the Trump administration’s aggressive posture in global affairs and its controversial approach to diplomacy. As Vance heads to Pituffik, the tension surrounding the trip underscores how deeply the question of sovereignty resonates in Greenland—and how international interest in the Arctic continues to grow.
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