The recent planned trip by the United States delegation this week has not been received well by Greenland authorities. In fact, the Greenland leaders are angered by the visit after President Donald Trump suggested that the US annex the semi-autonomous territory.
The delegation led by Usha Vance, wife of Vice President J.D. Vance and the White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright would visit a US military base and watch a dogsled race.
🇬🇱❌🇺🇸 Mass Protests in Greenland Against U.S. Takeover Threat
— Rusty Sun Compass (@sun_iscompass) March 23, 2025
• Thousands rallied in front of the U.S. consulate in Nuuk.
• Greenlandic leaders Múte B. Egede & Jens-Frederik Nielsen led the demonstration.
• Video: Aglobalcampusnetwork pic.twitter.com/uFqU6gSNtA
They are set to visit on Thursday. The delegation will return to the US on March 29.
Greenland's outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede called the delegation's visit a "provocation". He also added that the US cannot be trusted hereon.
Second Lady Usha Vance will lead a delegation to Greenland this week to tour a U.S. military base and attend a dog sled race.
— 鳳凰資訊 PhoenixTV News (@PhoenixTV_News) March 24, 2025
Greenland’s PM Mute B. Egede has termed the visit "highly aggressive." pic.twitter.com/UoTg669zyX
"Until recently, we could trust the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we enjoyed working closely," he was quoted by a local newspaper Sermitsiaq.
Egede also added that the only purpose of the visit was to demonstrate power to us.
The Greenland government is transitioning as the Democrats won the parliamentary election on March 11. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Democrats, called for political unity and criticised the timing of the visit during coalition talks.
Meanwhile, Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council said that Vance's visit aims to build on partnerships that respect Greeland's "self-determination and advances economic cooperation."
This is a visit to learn Greeland's culture, history and people, he said.
Heavy security has been deployed in Greenland ahead of the visit. Two US Hercules military transport planes arrived in Greenland's capital Nuuk late on Sunday, carrying security personnel and bulletproof vehicles.
Around 60 police officers were deployed from Denmark as well.
Vance in a video posted by the US consulate in Greenland said that she aims to "celebrate the long history of mutual respect and cooperation between the nations."
Talks of annexing Greenland have gained momentum since Trump returned to power in January. Both Greenland and Denmark have voiced opposition to any US takeover. However, Trump has not ruled out using force to achieve his aim.
