US Vice President JD Vance announced that he would accompany his wife, Usha Vance, on her planned visit to Greenland later this week. The Vice President explained in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he didn’t want his wife to have all the fun alone, so he decided to join her on her trip. JD Vance shared that he would visit U.S. military personnel in the Space Force stationed on Greenland’s northwest coast, while also assessing the region’s security situation.
Originally, Usha’s itinerary included visits to historic sites and participation in a traditional dog-sledding race, but the White House made changes to the schedule. The dog-sledding race was canceled and replaced with a meeting with U.S. military officials. JD Vance emphasized the importance of strengthening Greenland’s security, stating, “We want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think it’s important for protecting the security of the entire world.”
This visit comes in the context of ongoing tensions involving U.S. interests in Greenland. Former President Donald Trump had previously expressed interest in asserting U.S. control over Greenland, citing national and international security concerns. However, Greenland’s political leadership and the majority of its population strongly oppose the idea of becoming a U.S. territory.
Adding to the diplomatic tension, the Greenland government officially denied claims made by Trump regarding an invitation for the U.S. delegation, including Usha Vance, to visit. The government in Nuuk clarified that no official or private invitation had been extended. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also criticized the visit, stressing that both Greenland and Denmark would resist any undue pressure and stand firm on their sovereignty.
This development comes on the heels of a visit to Nuuk earlier this year by Donald Trump Jr., further fueling concerns about the strained relationship between Greenland and the United States.