When Vice President JD Vance lands in Greenland this Friday, he is set to face a frosty reception. Strikingly, the visit—marked as historic due to Vance being the highest-ranking American official to step foot on the island—was never initiated by the Greenlanders themselves. The local population has voiced their dissatisfaction, stating, "He’s not welcome." This disapproval stems from prior remarks made by former President Trump about purchasing the island, which has heightened local tensions.
Rather than engaging in a broader cultural exploration, Vance’s itinerary has been significantly pared down. Initially, Second Lady Usha Vance planned to attend a renowned dog sled race and connect with cultural sites as a gesture of goodwill. However, with protests anticipated and the Greenlandic government labeling the visit as "highly aggressive," the engagement has switched to a brief stop at the remote Pituffik Space Base, a U.S. military outpost situated far from Nuuk, the capital.
The original U.S. plan faced swift backlash, not only from Greenlanders but also from the Danish government, which oversees Greenland as a semi-autonomous territory. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has publicly stated that the situation is complex and views the visit as an unwelcome challenge to local sovereignty.
While Usha Vance’s team argues that invitations were received from various parties to attend cultural festivities, the organizers of the dog sled race have issued statements denying such invitations were ever extended.
In a time when Greenland grapples with its identity and place in global geopolitics, the Vance visit serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between external interests and local autonomy in this Arctic territory.
