United States: Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance are traveling to Greenland on Friday to visit the Pituffik Space Base. They left on Air Force Two around 6 am ET, accompanied by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Senator Mike Lee. They are expected to arrive at around 11:45 am ET.
Initially, Usha Vance planned to attend a dogsled race, but the event was canceled after facing criticism. Now, the visit will mainly involve Vice President Vance giving remarks and receiving updates at the space base.
This visit comes as President Trump has emphasized the importance of Greenland for US national security. He believes the US needs Greenland to counter the increasing presence of China and Russia in the Arctic.
“Greenland is essential for our security and global safety,” Trump said on Wednesday. “Denmark understands this, and we will do what is necessary to ensure our presence there.”
Trump had also proposed buying Greenland during his first term, but the idea faced strong opposition from Greenland and Denmark, as Greenland is an autonomous territory under Danish rule.
Vice President Vance criticized past leadership for neglecting Greenland and praised Trump for taking a different approach. “Previous US administrations and Danish leaders allowed other countries to gain influence in Greenland. President Trump is changing that,” Vance said.
Energy Secretary Wright added that Greenland has long wanted US companies to invest in mining resources. Due to a lack of infrastructure, mining hasn’t been profitable so far. Wright expressed hope that US investments could benefit both Greenland and the United States by creating jobs and securing essential minerals.
Despite these views, many in Greenland and Denmark oppose the idea of US involvement. Officials have accused Trump of applying undue pressure. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen called Trump’s comments an “escalation” and said they were inappropriate for a US president. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also criticized the visit, calling it unacceptable interference.
Adding to the controversy, JD Vance and Mike Waltz are involved in a scandal regarding a leaked conversation about a military operation in Yemen. Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic reported on the conversation earlier this week.
Greenland’s government is currently trying to form a coalition following recent elections, and the visit is seen as poorly timed, adding further political strain.
While the visit continues, the discussions around security, diplomacy, and Greenland’s future relationship with the US are likely to remain in focus.
