JD Vance is set to travel to Greenland later this week, as Donald Trump continues to threaten to annex the territory following decades of “neglect and inaction” by Denmark.
Accompanied by his wife Usha Vance, the US vice-president will travel to the Pituffik space base for a briefing on “Arctic security issues” on Friday.
The couple, alongside other senior officials, will also meet members of US forces stationed there.
In a press release, the White House criticised Denmark for “neglecting” the Arctic territory, which the US has claimed is critical to its own national security.
JD Vance is travelling to Greenland, as Donald Trump continues to threaten to annex the territory
Getty
Donald Trump's plane arriving in Greenland earlier this year
GETTY“During the Cold War, the United States committed additional resources to Greenland to defend against Soviet missile attacks”, it read.
“In the decades since, neglect and inaction from Danish leaders and past US administrations have presented our adversaries with the opportunity to advance their own priorities in Greenland and the Arctic. President Trump is rightly changing course.”
In a video posted on social media, Vance said he wanted to “just check out what's going on with the security there”.
He added: “A lot of other countries have threatened Greenland, have threatened to use its territories and its waterways to threaten the United States, to threaten Canada, and of course, to threaten the people of Greenland, so we're going to check out how things are going there.”
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The US has claimed gaining control of Greenland is critical to its own national security
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Mette Frederiksen has accused the US of exerting 'unacceptable pressure' on Greenland
GettyThe Danish Prime Minister has accused the US of exerting “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland following the announcement of the trip.
“You cannot make a private visit with official representatives from another country”, Mette Frederiksen told Danish media.
The Vances will travel to the island alongside Mike Waltz, the US national security adviser, and Chris Wright, the energy secretary.
Whilst Vance will be there on a “private visit” to watch the annual Avannaata Qimusseru dogsled race, Waltz and Wright are expected to visit the US military facility.
“President Trump is serious. He wants Greenland. Therefore, [this visit] cannot be seen independently of anything else.
Greenland’s outgoing prime minister, Mute Egede, called the visit 'very aggressive'
Reuters
“I have to say that it is unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it is pressure that we will resist.
“It is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs, or what Greenland wants,” Frederikson concluded.
Greenland’s outgoing prime minister, Mute Egede, called the visit “very aggressive”.
“We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterised as a harmless visit from a politician’s wife. What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us,” he told a local paper.
Meanwhile, Trump told reporters in Washington DC recently that the trip was an act of “friendliness, not provocation”.
