US Vice President Visits Greenland: Islanders Protest, Denmark Outraged

The United States is exerting "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on March 25 after learning of an unsolicited visit by a high-profile U.S. delegation to the semi-autonomous Danish territory. The visit is scheduled for this week, reports Reuters.

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The delegation visiting the American military base includes US Vice President J.D. Vance, his wife Usha Vance, White House National Security Advisor Mike Walz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

The US Vice President announced on March 25 that he would be visiting Greenland on Friday, March 28. His wife was supposed to be attending a dog sled race that day, but instead, the Vice President's press service reported, Usha Vance will visit the Pituffik Space Base.

"A campaign of seduction without charm"

President Donald Trump on March 24 again proposed that the United States take control of Greenland, arguing that the vast island was important to U.S. national security. Frederiksen rejected the proposal, saying that only the people of Greenland have the right to decide their own destiny.

"I must say that the pressure being put on Greenland and Denmark in this situation is unacceptable. And this is pressure that we will resist," she stressed.

Greenland's acting prime minister Mute Egede called the visit a "provocation" because it coincides with coalition government talks and municipal elections scheduled for next week.

"This is a seduction campaign without charm," said Noja Redington, an analyst and former adviser to Denmark's previous prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt. "Everyone is outraged because it is clearly aimed at intimidating Greenlanders and provoking Denmark."

Since Donald Trump Jr.'s private visit to the mineral-rich island in January, President Trump has repeatedly talked about the possible annexation of Greenland by the United States and called on the islanders to join the United States.
Polls show that almost all Greenlanders are against joining the United States.

The White House chief said his administration was working with "people in Greenland" who want something to happen, but did not specify what exactly he was talking about.

Kuno Fenker, a member of Greenland's parliament for the Nalerak party, which came in second in the March 11 general election, welcomed the visit, calling it "an honor and a strong signal of respect," though he noted that he had not been in contact with the U.S. administration about the visit.

Brian Hughes, press secretary for the White House National Security Council, explained that the delegation's goal is to "learn about Greenland, its culture, its history and its people."

Frederiksen disputed the claim that it was a "private visit" involving U.S. officials.

"This visit is clearly not about what Greenland needs," she said. "President Trump is serious - he wants Greenland, so this visit cannot be considered independently of anything else."

As Frederiksen said, Denmark is not against ties with the US. The Danish prime minister referred to a bilateral agreement from 1951, which gave the US the right to move freely and build military bases in Greenland, but on the condition that Denmark and Greenland were notified.
"We are allies," she noted, adding, "There is no indication in Denmark or Greenland that we do not want to cooperate with the Americans."

Egede called for more decisive support for allies against the US.

Frederiksen clarified: “There is huge support from the Nordic countries and the EU, so we have our allies and close partners.”

Make America Go Away

Earlier this month, anti-American protesters gathered in the island capital of Nuuk and several other towns across the island for massive protests — the largest in Greenland's history.

And the other day, Aannguak Reimer-Johansen, a resident of Sisimuth, posted on Facebook an image of a red baseball cap with the inscription Make America Go Away. This is another parody of the red caps with the pompous slogan Make America Great Again, writes Yahoo!.

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"If you smile at them or take selfies with them, you are sending a signal to the world that you love the US and want to be a part of it," Reimer-Johansen wrote. "It is recommended that you do not show interest. We have already expressed our position through the demonstration. Let us remain strong and united!"

Reimer-Johansen's feelings about the Vances' visit are in line with those of many other Greenlanders.

The red cap with the slogan "Make America Go Away" became a popular item around the world. In response, one social media user X wrote: "We should make a Canadian version with a maple leaf on the side."

Read also on ForumDaily:

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