US President Donald Trump has intensified his assertions regarding Greenland, stating before a visit by Vice President JD Vance that the United States must take control of the Danish island for “international security.”
Since regaining power in January, Mr. Trump has consistently maintained that he wishes for the self-governing territory to come under US control, not dismissing the potential use of force to achieve this.
“We require Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We must have it,” Mr. Trump expressed to podcaster Vince Coglianese.
“I hate to put it like that, but we are going to have to have it.”
It is also strategically positioned between North America and Europe amidst increasing US, Chinese, and Russian interests in the Arctic, where climate change has opened up new sea lanes.
Donald Trump has not ruled out the use of force to acquire Greenland.
When asked if he believed Greenlanders were keen on joining the United States, Mr. Trump admitted he was uncertain.
“We must convince them,” he stated. “And we need that land, as it’s not feasible to properly defend a significant portion of this planet, not just the United States, without it.”
Mr. Trump’s remarks led Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to assert on her Facebook page: “We shouldn’t harbor illusions – President Trump’s interest in Greenland is not fading.”
“They understand that Greenland is not for sale. They realize that Greenland does not wish to be part of the United States,” she added, stating that the message had been conveyed “clearly.”
US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to visit Greenland on Friday along with his wife Usha.
Dogsled visit canceled
Mr. Trump’s latest strong remarks arrive as Mr. Vance prepares to accompany his wife Usha to the US-operated Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Friday.
Ms. Frederiksen and Greenland’s outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede had previously criticized plans for a US delegation to visit the Arctic island uninvited, which initially encompassed a more extensive agenda.
Mr. Egede labeled the original plans as “foreign interference,” emphasizing that the outgoing government had not “issued any invitations for visits, either private or official.”
Looking forward to visiting Greenland on Friday! pic.twitter.com/p3HslD3hhP
— JD Vance (@JDVance) March 25, 2025
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen welcomed the decision to restrict the visit to the US space base.
“I think it’s very positive that the Americans have annulled their visit to Greenlandic society. They will solely visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have no objections to that,” he stated to public broadcaster DR.
Previously known as Thule Air Base, the Pituffik Space Base is the United States’ northernmost military facility and supports missile warning, missile defense, and space surveillance operations.
Yesterday, the White House announced that the Vances’ visit to the space base would replace the second lady’s planned attendance at a dogsled race in Sisimiut, where an anti-US demonstration was reportedly on the agenda.
‘Respect this process’
Greenlandic officials have repeatedly expressed that the territory does not desire to be either Danish or American, but is “open for business” with all.
“Undoubtedly, we find ourselves in a challenging situation,” Ms. Frederiksen remarked regarding Mr. Trump’s persistent comments on a potential takeover, forecasting “a situation that will fluctuate, maybe for quite some time.”
Greenland possesses vast untapped mineral and oil reserves.
Opinion polls indicate that a majority of Greenlanders favor independence from Denmark but do not desire annexation by the US.
Following elections on March 11, Greenland is currently governed by a transitional government, with parties still in discussions to establish a new coalition.
Marc Jacobsen, a senior lecturer at the Royal Danish Defense College, characterized the decision to limit the US visit as “a de-escalation,” a term echoed by Foreign Minister Lokke.
“You do not visit another country without an invitation,” he told AFP.
Mr. Jacobsen also noted that the planned anti-US demonstration in Sisimiut, following a similar protest in the capital Nuuk on March 15, may have influenced Mr. Vance’s decision to restrict the visit.
