Greenland leaders lambast US delegation trip as Trump talks of annexation
Greenlandic leaders criticised an upcoming trip by a high-profile American delegation to the semi-autonomous Danish territory that President Donald Trump has said the U.S. should annex.
The delegation, which will visit Pituffik Space Base, the U.S. military base in Greenland, will be led by Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, and include White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the U.S. delegation’s visit presents an opportunity “to learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people.”
“Until recently, we could trust the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we enjoyed working closely. But that time is over,” outgoing prime minister Mute Egede told local newspaper Sermitsiaq, calling this week’s visit a “provocation” and said his caretaker government would not meet with the delegation.
The Greenlandic government, Naalakkersuisut, is currently in a caretaker period after a March 11 general election won by the Democrats, a pro-business party that favours a slow approach to independence from Denmark.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Democrats, called for political unity and said the visit by the U.S. delegation during coalition talks and with municipal elections due next week, “once again shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a written comment reacting to news of the U.S. delegation’s visit that “this is something we take seriously”.
She said Denmark wanted cooperation with the United States, a NATO ally, but on the basis of “the fundamental rules of sovereignty”, adding that Copenhagen and Greenland’s future government would both be involved in any talks with the U.S. regarding the island.
In the meantime, two U.S. Hercules military transport planes arrived in Greenland’s capital Nuuk late on Sunday, carrying security personnel and bullet-proof vehicles, Sermitsiaq reported.
Around 60 police officers from Denmark also arrived in Nuuk on Sunday, state broadcaster KNR reported.
