U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to acquire Greenland, a territory of Denmark, and recently White House officials have been visiting Greenland in succession. Local politicians have strongly opposed this, describing it as an attempt to interfere in elections and a political threat. Local experts have pointed out that "the U.S. visit will have a negative effect."
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and The New York Times (NYT) on the 24th (local time), the White House announced that Second Lady Usha Vance will visit Greenland on the 27th. Mrs. Vance is scheduled to visit cultural sites in Greenland with the U.S. delegation, including her son, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and attend a traditional dog sled race in Greenland. Earlier, Trump’s eldest son, Trump Jr., also visited Greenland last January.
In an interview with local media, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egedé criticized this by stating, "This is an act of power display." Especially with the visit occurring ahead of the Greenland parliamentary election on April 1, the Greenland political scene is suspicious of the White House's intentions.
Geographically, Greenland is part of North America, but it is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. After being ruled by the Norway-Denmark union in the past, Denmark took sole control of Greenland when the union was dissolved in 1814, and in 1953 it became an official administrative region of Denmark. In 1979, it established a self-government that has authority over domestic affairs excluding diplomacy and defense. Therefore, discussions regarding Greenland's independence have continued in Denmark.
President Trump has asserted that the U.S. must possess Greenland for reasons of national security. Greenland is rich in minerals and is located in a strategically essential area. In a previous congressional speech, President Trump stated, "We really need Greenland for international security. We will acquire Greenland by any means necessary."
The Danish government and Greenland politicians characterize this visit as political pressure. Residents are also responding strongly against it. According to a poll conducted in January, 94% of Greenland residents oppose merging with the United States. In the capital Nuuk, hundreds of citizens took to the streets chanting slogans like "Greenland is not for sale" and "America, go home."
Even the organizers of the traditional dog sled race in Greenland, which the U.S. delegation is set to visit, have stated, "We did not invite them," showing a cold reaction. The White House referred to the visit as "friendly cultural exchange," but it is apparently perceived locally as an infringement on sovereignty.
Political analysts have pointed out that President Trump’s hardline approach to Greenland is likely backfiring, and that Greenland will seek security through an alliance with Denmark rather than pursuing independence from it.
A Danish political expert told The New York Times (NYT), "A year ago, all parties in Greenland were expecting business with the United States, but this recent aggression is distancing Greenland from the U.S. This visit will certainly have the opposite effect of what the U.S. desires."