COPENHAGEN, Denmark—Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has denounced a US delegation visit that now includes Vice President JD Vance to Greenland, the Danish island coveted by President Donald Trump, as putting “unacceptable pressure” on both the territory and her country.
Vance, who has become Trump’s attack dog on foreign policy matters, will travel with his wife Usha to Pituffik Space Base on Friday “to receive a briefing on Arctic security issues and meet with US servicemembers,” his office said in a statement.
The vice president had earlier said in a video message that there was “so much excitement” around his wife’s planned visit to Greenland that he had decided to join her.
According to the Arctic island’s outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede, US national security adviser Mike Waltz will also visit Greenland this week, while US media have reported that Energy Secretary Chris Wright will travel there as well.
The visits, presented as private, have angered Danish and Greenlandic politicians.
“You can’t organize a private visit with official representatives of another country,” Frederiksen told reporters.
The visit comes at a time of political flux in Greenland, where parties are still negotiating to form a new coalition government following a March 11 general election.
“This is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or wants,” Frederiksen told broadcaster DR.