Greenland’s prime minister slammed an upcoming trip to the island by Second Lady Usha Vance and other U.S. officials as “aggressive” and a clear show of power.
Why it matters: President Trump‘s desire to take over the island has set U.S. allies on edge and drawn repeated rebukes from Greenlandic and Danish officials.
- The White House on Sunday announced that the second lady would travel to Greenland with an American delegation to visit historical sites and attend the national dogsled race.
- That delegation will include Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, multiple outlets reported.
Driving the news: The Trump administration’s posture is “now so serious that the level cannot be raised any higher,” Prime Minister Múte Egede said in an interview with Greenlandic publication Sermitsiaq Sunday, according to a translation.
- He continued, “We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician’s wife.”
- “Because what is the security adviser doing in Greenland?” he said, characterizing Waltz’s presence as a “demonstration of power.”
- Danish police have assisted Greenlandic officials in beefing up security ahead of the delegation’s arrival as part of routine enhancements for visiting dignitaries, the Associated Press reported.
Zoom out: Egede said in a separate Facebook post that there would be no meetings between the delegation and the Greenlandic government, noting such dialogue would only take place after the new administration is formed.
- Greenland is in the midst of political transition after an election earlier this month that saw Egede’s left-wing party defeated in a surprise victory for the pro-business Demokraatit party.
Catch up quick: Trump, in his address to Congress earlier this month, reiterated his desire to take over the territory, predicting that “one way or the other,” the U.S. would “get” Greenland.
- He’s argued its critical to seize the mineral-rich island, a largely autonomous territory of Denmark, for national security purposes as the Arctic region grows in global importance.
- Despite Greenlandic and Danish officials repeatedly stressing that Greenland is not for sale, Trump and high-level administration officials have continued to push the idea.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in January that it’s in “the national interest” to acquire more control over Greenland, noting the U.S. already has a defense agreement with Denmark to protect the territory if it comes under assault.
The other side: “We are not for sale and cannot be taken,” Egede said earlier this year, after Trump’s congressional address. “Our future is determined by us in Greenland.”
Go deeper: Greenland set to ban foreign political donations amid U.S. takeover concern
