Second lady Usha Vance is scheduled to visit Greenland later this week, as announced by the White House on Sunday. This marks the highest-profile visit thus far as the Trump administration considers the Danish territory.
Having already embarked on several international trips, the second lady visited Paris in February and India earlier this month.
According to the White House, Vance plans to explore “historical sites, gain insight into Greenlandic heritage, and participate in the Avannaata Qimussersu, which is Greenland’s national dogsled race.” She is expected to arrive on Thursday and depart on Saturday.
Her son will accompany her on the journey, alongside a U.S. delegation, as stated by the White House.
National security adviser Mike Waltz will also be making the trip to Greenland, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News. Waltz will tour the Pituffik Space Base, according to the source.
President Trump initially expressed interest in gaining control of Greenland, which is currently a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, during his first term. Since taking office two months ago, he has intensified this initiative. In his inaugural address before a joint session of Congress for his second term, Mr. Trump declared, “we’re going to get it.”
“We need Greenland for national security and even international security,” the president stated during his speech on March 4. “I believe we will acquire it. One way or another, we’re going to obtain it.”
Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, responded by asserting, “We are not for sale and cannot simply be taken.”
Egede characterized Mr. Trump as “very unpredictable, in a manner that creates insecurity among people.” Following Mr. Trump’s address, an election held on March 11 resulted in a victory for Egede’s opposition; however, they still need to negotiate a coalition government.
“Greenland needs us to unite during this time of heightened interest from external parties,” remarked Democratic party leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen to local media, as reported by BBC News. “There is a pressing need for unity, and we will engage in negotiations with all parties.”
Waltz noted in January that discussions regarding Greenland are “not solely about Greenland; this pertains to the Arctic.”
“Russia is striving to dominate the Arctic with over 60 icebreakers, several of which are nuclear powered,” Waltz commented in January. “In comparison, we have two, and one of them just caught fire. This discussion concerns critical minerals and natural resources.”
Mr. Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. visited in January before the current president took office. Ahead of his visit, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen indicated that Greenland is not for sale but expressed her openness to continued American interest and investment.
