Vice President JD Vance has significantly shortened his planned trip to Greenland, now limiting his visit to a brief stop at the U.S.-operated Pituffik Space Base. This decision follows heightened tensions after former President Donald Trump’s renewed comments about America’s interest in the Arctic island.
Originally, his wife, Usha Vance, and one of their children were scheduled to spend multiple days in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, attending cultural events such as a prestigious dogsled race. However, on March 25, the White House announced that JD Vance would accompany them, but the visit would now be restricted to a single-day stop at the military installation on Greenland’s northwestern coast.
Vance addressed the change on social media, joking that he wanted to join his wife to avoid missing out on the experience. However, he also pointed to security concerns, noting that adversaries have threatened to exploit Greenland’s strategic location to pose risks to the United States, Canada, and Greenland itself.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen welcomed the revised itinerary, describing it as a constructive step toward easing diplomatic tensions.
Greenland’s acting leader, Mute Egede, had earlier criticized the original visit, calling it a “provocation.” He reaffirmed Greenland’s autonomy with a firm statement declaring, “We Greenlanders will never be Americans… Enough is enough.”
Despite being the world’s largest island, Greenland remains under Danish sovereignty while managing its domestic affairs. The U.S. has maintained a military presence there since World War II, with Pituffik Space Base playing a crucial role in missile defense and space surveillance.
Public opinion polls indicate that while many Greenlanders support independence from Denmark, a vast majority oppose any prospect of becoming part of the United States.
