Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is set to visit Greenland from April 2-4 to engage in talks with the newly formed government of the semi-autonomous territory. This visit comes amid growing interest from the United States in taking a more active role in the governance and security of Greenland, particularly due to its strategic location in the Arctic.
Frederiksen expressed her commitment to continuing the “close and trusting cooperation” between Denmark and Greenland. However, her visit follows recent comments made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance during his visit to a U.S. military base in northern Greenland. Vance criticized Denmark’s handling of Greenland’s security, suggesting that the U.S. could offer better protection for the island, which has been under Danish control since 1721.
This criticism came shortly after Greenland formed a new broad-based government coalition, led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen. Nielsen reiterated that Denmark remains Greenland’s closest ally. In response to Vance’s remarks, Frederiksen defended Denmark, stating that Vance’s description of Denmark’s efforts was “not fair.” She expressed respect for the way Greenland’s people and politicians are handling the pressures on the territory, emphasizing the need for unity across political parties and the countries within the Kingdom of Denmark.
The situation highlights the delicate balance of Greenland’s political and security concerns, particularly as global powers show increased interest in the region due to its geopolitical and resource significance.