JD Vance, the American vice-president, announces that he will “join” his wife's visit to Greenland, despite the opposition of local authorities and Denmark

The protests of the Danish and Greenlandic authorities will have done nothing. US vice-president JD Vance announced Tuesday, March 25, that he would go to Greenland on Friday. While Mr. Vance's visit was not on the program, Denmark had already insurgent against the upcoming arrival of American officials in its autonomous territory, openly coveted by Donald Trump. Among them, the national security advisor Mike Waltz, according to the Greenlandic government, and the Minister of Energy, Chris Wright, according to the American press.

Usha Vance, the wife of the American vice-president, had also announced his arrival with a delegation, from Thursday to Saturday, to attend a national trainee dog race in Sisimiut, on the northwest coast. This race was largely sponsored by the American consulate in Nuuk, according to the local press.

“There was so much excitement around Usha's visit to Greenland on Friday that I decided that I did not want to let her have fun on my own and I will therefore join her”said the American vice-president in a video published on the X platform. He also said that he would meet members of “Space Force”, American forces present in the territory, and that he would also be interested in issues of ” security “ involving the immense Arctic Island. The United States has an air base in Pituffik, which the delegation should visit, although no program has been made public.

The announcement of the first visits, presented as private, had already sparked the ire of Danish and Greenlandic political leaders. “We cannot organize a private visit with official representatives from another country”said Danish Prime Minister, puts Frederiksen, to the press. “The pressure exerted on Greenland and Denmark in this situation is unacceptable. And it is a pressure to which we will resist ”added the head of the government, stressing having the support of its allies across Europe.

“So-called tourists”

Greenland is awaiting a government after the hearing of legislative elections on March 11 which saw the victory of the center right. On Facebook, the outgoing government recalled that he did not “Sent no invitation for visits, whether private or official”. “The current government is a transitional government pending the formation of a new government coalition, and we have asked all countries to respect this process”is it written.

“No member of the official Greenlandic system invited these so-called tourists”insisted with the agency France-Presse, the deputy Aaja Chemnitz, who represents Greenland in the Danish parliament.

President Trump, who continues to repeat his wish to annex the Greenland, for his part, assured that the visit responded to “The call” of “Many people from Greenland who would like something to happen so that it is properly protected and that we take care of it correctly”. “We are allies, we have a defense agreement on Greenland which dates back to 1951recalled M^me Frederiksen. Nothing indicates, neither in Denmark nor in Greenland, which we do not want to cooperate with the Americans. »»

Since December and Donald Trump's first announcements on his intention to acquire the immense Arctic Island, his political class has stressed that it was not for sale but “Open to business”. In a survey carried out at the end of January, the Groenlandian population said it was massively opposed to the idea of ​​attachment to Washington.

A planned demonstration

“In Sisimiut [où a lieu la course de chiens]they will be greeted by a demonstration, which I support. They should have thought about it twice ”underlined M^me Chemnitz. In this city of some 5,500 inhabitants – the second in the territory – residents are invited to turn their back on the American procession, explained to the local daily Sermitaq One of the organizers. “This is our way of showing that we do not agree with their presence and their way of doing things”explained Per Norgard.

A territory as four times France, Greenland stirs up lusts on its supposed mineral riches, very largely unexploited. The outgoing government had introduced legislation prohibiting the extraction of radioactive products. Oil prospecting has also been suspended. Supported by the population, these two prohibitions should not be called into question.

As for the new government, analysts do not risk planning its training. Negotiations are underway are the leadership of the ballot winner, the Democrats.