US Vice President JD Vance and his wife are set to visit an American military base in Greenland on Friday, following a scaled-back itinerary after backlash from Greenlanders and Danes who were frustrated by the initial plan being made without their consultation. The revised trip to the semi-autonomous Danish territory comes amid growing tensions between the US and Denmark, a NATO ally, following past remarks by former US President Donald Trump suggesting that the United States should control the mineral-rich island. The original three-day visit was shortened to a single-day stop at the US Space Force outpost in Pituffik, located on Greenland’s northwest coast, to avoid diplomatic complications and potential confrontations with local residents angered by Trump’s annexation rhetoric.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized the initial trip, calling it unacceptable pressure, but reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to working with the US on defense matters while emphasizing that Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders. Originally, Usha Vance had planned a solo visit to Sisimiut for the Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race. However, after her husband announced he would join her, protests from Greenland and Denmark led to the itinerary being revised again, limiting the couple’s visit to the military base.

Despite the controversy, Trump reiterated in a Wednesday interview his interest in US control of Greenland. When asked if Greenlanders wanted US citizenship, he admitted he was unsure but insisted, We have to do it and convince them. As a strategic gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic, Greenland holds significant geopolitical importance, particularly as China and Russia seek access to its waterways and resources. Trump had previously proposed purchasing the island during his first term, a suggestion firmly rejected by both Denmark and Greenland’s people.

Vance has frequently criticized European allies for relying on US military support, fueling concerns over the stability of America’s partnerships. Meanwhile, opponents of US influence over Greenland have planned a protest outside the American embassy in Copenhagen on Saturday, according to Danish broadcaster DR. Demonstrators intend to voice their opposition to American pressure on Greenland and what they see as unwelcome visits from US officials.

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