U.S. Vice President JD Vance has announced he will accompany his wife, Usha Vance, on her upcoming visit to Greenland this Friday, adding a new layer of political intrigue to an already controversial trip.
“There’s so much excitement around Usha’s visit that I decided I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself,” Vance said in a video posted on X. “I’ll also be visiting our Space Force guardians on the northwest coast and checking out security developments there.”
His reference to Pituffik Space Base, a key U.S. military site in Greenland, has reignited debates over America’s growing interest in the Arctic region. Originally, Usha Vance’s itinerary included visits to historical sites and participation in a traditional dog-sledding race. However, the White House has since scrapped the race, replacing it with high-level meetings with U.S. military officials.
Speaking on behalf of President Donald Trump, JD Vance framed the visit as a security mission. “We want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we believe it’s crucial to protecting global stability,” he stated.
Trump has long expressed interest in asserting control over Greenland, citing national security concerns, but his ambitions have faced firm resistance from Greenlandic leaders and the local population. The government in Nuuk outright denied claims that Usha Vance had been officially invited, contradicting Trump’s narrative.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also criticized the visit, emphasizing that Greenland and Denmark would not bow to external pressure. The tensions follow a visit to Nuuk earlier this year by Donald Trump Jr., further stoking concerns over U.S. intentions in the region.
