Yesterday marked the White House’s highest-profile pitch to date for American control of Greenland, with Vice President JD Vance making a controversial visit to the island and President Donald Trump backing him up at home.
If you missed yesterday’s whirlwind, here’s how it played out:
Vance’s (unwelcome) visit: What the White House initially characterized as a visit by second lady Usha Vance to learn more about the culture of Greenland quickly became contentious earlier this week, with the outgoing leader of the semiautonomous Danish territory describing the US visit as “highly aggressive” in light of Trump’s annexation goals.
As Vance watched the outrage over his wife’s trip grow, he decided to join her. The Vances visited the remote US Space Force outpost at Pituffik, 1,000 miles from the capital of Nuuk.
Greeting enthusiastic US troops, the vice president steered well clear of a likely different reception in civilian population centers.
What Vance said: In a speech from the base, the vice president said Denmark had neglected the security of its territory and that America could no longer ignore alleged Russian and Chinese designs on the island.
He repeatedly claimed the island was vulnerable and that the United States had “no other option” than to ramp up its presence there — a move he argued would also ensure safety for the island’s population.
Meanwhile, at the White House: Addressing reporters, Trump said Friday that the US has “to have Greenland” for the sake of security. Trump argued control over the territory is a matter of peace “for the entire world,” not just the United States, given its strategic location and the presence of warships off its coasts.
How this is being received: Greenlandic politicians have repeatedly signaled they are opposed to annexation, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged Trump to respect “the fundamental rules of sovereignty.”
A newspaper poll in January found that 85% of Greenlanders did not want to become part of the US, Reuters reported.
