Greenland’s prime minister has attacked a planned visit by a US delegation to the island as “highly aggressive” and has called on the international community to respond.
Usha Vance, the wife of vice-president JD Vance and second lady, and Michael Waltz, the US national security adviser are among those travelling to Greenland, which Mr Trump has vowed to take over “one way or the other”.
The Danish-owned, semi-autonomous territory of about 57,000 people is mineral-rich and strategically important in the Arctic region. Mr Trump has claimed its ownership is vital for US national security.
On Monday, Mute B Egede, Greenland’s outgoing prime minister, said: “It should be said clearly that our integrity and democracy must be respected without foreign interference.” He added that the visit “cannot be seen as just a private visit”.
“What is the US national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us,” Mr Egede told local media. “His mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump’s mission — and the pressure will increase.”
“We are now at a point where it can no longer be described as an innocent visit from a politician’s spouse... the international community must now react.”