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Al-Ahram Weekly
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Denmark welcomes US limiting Greenland visit to military base - International
Denmark's foreign minister on Wednesday welcomed Washington's decision to limit a US delegation's visit to Greenland to a US military base, after previous plans sparked criticism. US Vice President JD Vance announced Tuesday that he would on Friday accompany his wife Usha to the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, the Danish self-governing island coveted by President Donald Trump. Since returning to power in January, Trump has insisted he wants to take over Greenland for national security purposes, refusing to rule out the use of force to do so. The vice president's announcement came just hours after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland's outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede harshly criticised plans by a US delegation to visit the Arctic island uninvited. Egede had qualified the initial plans as "foreign interference", stressing that the outgoing government had not "sent out any invitations for visits, private or official". Following March 11 elections, Greenland has only a transitional government, with parties still in negotiations to form a new coalition government. "We have asked all countries to respect this process," Egede had said in a Facebook post. Yet the White House announced on Sunday that Usha Vance would travel to Greenland from Thursday to Saturday, while Egede had said US national security adviser Mike Waltz was also expected to take part. US media had reported that Energy Secretary Chris Wright would be part of the visit as well. Usha Vance had been scheduled to view "historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage and watch the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland's national dogsled race," in the southwestern town of Sisimiut, the White House had said. Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen denounced that visit as "unacceptable pressure" being put on Greenland and Denmark, and vowed "to resist". It appears her message was heard. 'Very positive' JD Vance said in a video message that he and Usha will travel only to the Pituffik base to visit US Space Force members based there and "check out what's going on with the security" of Greenland. "I think it's very positive that the Americans have cancelled their visit among Greenlandic society. They will only visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told public broadcaster DR on Wednesday. "The cars (from the US advance security detail) that were delivered a few days ago are in the process of being sent back home, and the wife of the US vice president and the national security adviser will not visit Greenlandic society," Lokke Rasmussen said. "The matter is being wound up and that's positive," he added. Photographs in the daily Sermitsiaq showed what appeared to be US armoured vehicles preparing to be loaded onto US Hercules planes at the Nuuk airport. A US Hercules plane later took off, according to flight tracking website A self-governing territory that is seeking to emancipate itself from Copenhagen, Greenland holds massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, though oil and uranium exploration are banned. It is also strategically located between North America and Europe at a time of rising US, Chinese and Russian interest in the Arctic, where sea lanes have opened up because of climate change. Greenland's location also puts it on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States. According to opinion polls, most Greenlanders support independence from Denmark but not annexation by Washington. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Observer
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Greenland PM denounces US 'foreign interference' ahead of visit
COPENHAGEN: Greenland's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, accused Washington on Monday of interfering in its political affairs by sending a US delegation to the Danish territory, which is coveted by US President Donald Trump. Egede said US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz would visit Greenland this week, along with Usha Vance, the wife of US Vice President JD Vance. Usha Vance was to attend a dogsled race with her son. Greenlandic media reports said the delegation also included US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former mining executive. They showed images of two US Hercules planes on the tarmac at Nuuk airport as part of an advance security team dispatched to the vast Arctic island. Speaking to Greenlandic daily Sermitiaq, Egede said the "only purpose of the visit was a demonstration of power, and the signal should not be misunderstood". Since returning to power in January, Trump has insisted he wants the United States to take over Greenland for what he says are national security purposes. He has refused to rule out the use of force to achieve that aim. Greenland — which is seeking to emancipate itself from Copenhagen — and Denmark itself have both repeatedly rebuffed Trump, insisting that only Greenlanders can decide their future. Egede said Washington had previously been told there would be "no talks" on any subject until a new Greenlandic government was in place to conduct business. The general election on March 11 left him heading a caretaker government. "It should be said clearly that our integrity and democracy must be respected without foreign interference," Egede said in a post on Facebook. He added that the US delegation's visit "cannot be seen as just a private visit". "(Waltz) is Trump's confidant and closest adviser, and his presence in Greenland alone will certainly make the Americans believe in Trump's mission, and the pressure will increase after the visit," Egede told Sermitsiaq. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the centre-right Democrats and likely future Greenlandic prime minister, has previously criticised Trump's Greenland ambitions as "inappropriate". Egede urged the self-governing territory's Western allies to speak up and "clearly support and back up Greenland". Ulrik Pram Gad of the Danish Institute for International Studies called the visit an "aggressive move" by Washington. "They haven't been invited by Greenlanders. They haven't been invited by the Danes. They just announced that they will go," he said. Greenland's political parties are currently in the process of negotiating a new coalition government following the election, which the Democrats won. "Normally, as a friend or ally, you would stay out of that," Pram Gad said. He said the visit was aimed at showing that "Denmark is not in control of Greenland". — AFP
Boston Globe
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Greenland's leader laments ‘mess' as US vice president's wife to visit island coveted by Trump
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Denmark is a NATO ally of the United States, and Greenland already houses a US military base. Advertisement Security stepped up Danish national police on Sunday sent extra personnel and sniffer dogs to Greenland as part of regular security measures taken during visits by dignitaries. Citing office procedure, police spokesman René Gyldensten declined to specify the number of extra police flown in. News reports put the number at dozens. Before the president began his second term in January, a visit by Trump's eldest son heightened concerns in Greenland about possible US ambitions. Donald Trump Jr. told residents of Greenland that 'we're going to treat you well' — weeks before March 11 elections that had centered on possible independence from Denmark. Greenlandic news outlet Sermitsiaq posted images of two US Hercules workhorse military aircraft on the tarmac Sunday in Nuuk, the capital, adding that the planes later departed. News reports said four bulletproof cars had also been flown in. On her visit, Vance will attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland's national dogsled race, featuring about 37 mushers and 444 dogs, her office said. The statement said Vance and the US delegation 'are excited to witness this monumental race and celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity.' Media outlets in Greenland and Denmark reported that Vance would be accompanied by Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz. The White House and the National Security Council did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Greenland is also in the process of political transition. The pro-business Demokraatit party, which favors a slow path to independence, won a surprise victory in the elections, outpacing the two left-leaning parties that formed the last government. Greenland's likely next leader calls for unity Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede, whose party trailed Demokraatit in the elections but who remains in the post until a new government is formed, acknowledged Sunday on Facebook that there is worry in Greenland. The visit of 'the wife of the United States vice president and the United States president's highest security adviser cannot be seen only as a private visit,' he said. 'We can already see now, how big a mess it's caused.' Egede said there would be no meetings with the US visitors because a new government has yet to be formed. In an interview in Sermitsiaq, he was quoted as saying that if allied countries 'do not speak out loudly about how the USA is treating Greenland, the situation will escalate day by day, and the American aggression will increase.' 'So we need our other allies to clearly and distinctly come with their support and backing for us,' he said, adding that 'the only purpose' of a trip by Waltz 'is to show a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood.' 'We have been treated unacceptably,' he wrote on his Facebook account. The likely next Greenlandic leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, sought to calm nerves and said he was working on building a new coalition government 'with the clear goal of creating security for our country and our people.' Advertisement 'I know that many are following closely what is happening these days. I understand if anyone feels uneasy,' he wrote on Facebook. 'When foreign dignitaries travel to our country on what are called private visits, it rightly causes concern.' He added that: 'There is no reason to panic. But there is good reason to stand together and to demand respect. I do. And I will continue to do so.' Denmark says sovereignty must be respected Trump had mused during his first term about buying the world's largest island, even as Denmark insisted it wasn't for sale. The people of Greenland have also firmly rejected Trump's plans. Since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly said that the US will come to control Greenland while insisting he supports the idea for strategic national security reasons — not with an eye toward American expansionism. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in a statement Sunday reported by Danish broadcaster DR, insisted 'the visit from the United States cannot be viewed independently of the public statements that have been made.' 'We want to cooperate with the Americans. But it must be a cooperation based on the fundamental values of sovereignty and respect between countries and peoples,' she was quoted as saying. In Brussels a spokesperson for the European Commission said the 27-member European Union, to which Denmark belongs, said international borders must be respected. 'The European Union and fully supports and stands with the Kingdom of Denmark,' Anitta Hipper said. 'We will continue to uphold the principles of national sovereignty, the territorial integrity of our borders, and the UN charter. These are universal principles that we stand by, and we will not stop defending them, all the more so if the territorial integrity of our member States of the European Union is questioned,' Hipper added. Advertisement Trump is focused on Greenland because it straddles strategic air and sea routes in the North Atlantic and is home to the US's Pituffik Space Base, which supports missile warning and space surveillance operations. Greenland, whose population of 56,000 people are mostly from Indigenous Inuit backgrounds, also has large deposits of the rare-earth minerals needed to make everything from mobile phones to renewable energy technology.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Greenland PM denounces US 'foreign interference' ahead of visit
Greenland's prime minister, Mute Egede, accused Washington on Monday of interfering in its political affairs by sending a US delegation to the Danish territory, which is coveted by US President Donald Trump. Egede said US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz would visit Greenland this week, along with Usha Vance, the wife of US Vice President JD Vance. Usha Vance was to attend a dogsled race with her son. Greenlandic media reports said the delegation also included US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, a former mining executive. They showed images of two US Hercules planes on the tarmac at Nuuk airport as part of an advance security team dispatched to the vast Arctic island. Speaking to Greenlandic daily Sermitiaq, Egede said the "only purpose of the visit was a demonstration of power, and the signal should not be misunderstood". Since returning to power in January, Trump has insisted he wants the United States to take over Greenland for what he says are national security purposes. He has refused to rule out the use of force to achieve that aim. Greenland -- which is seeking to emancipate itself from Copenhagen -- and Denmark itself have both repeatedly rebuffed Trump, insisting that only Greenlanders can decide their future. Egede said Washington had previously been told there would be "no talks" on any subject until a new Greenlandic government was in place to conduct business. The general election on March 11 left him heading a caretaker government. - 'Aggressive move' - "It should be said clearly that our integrity and democracy must be respected without foreign interference," Egede said in a post on Facebook. He added that the US delegation's visit "cannot be seen as just a private visit". "(Waltz) is Trump's confidant and closest advisor, and his presence in Greenland alone will certainly make the Americans believe in Trump's mission, and the pressure will increase after the visit," Egede told Sermitsiaq. Jens-Frederik Nielsen -- leader of the centre-right Democrats and likely future Greenlandic prime minister -- has previously criticised Trump's Greenland ambitions as "inappropriate". Egede urged the self-governing territory's Western allies to speak up and "clearly support and back up Greenland". Ulrik Pram Gad of the Danish Institute for International Studies called the visit an "aggressive move" by Washington. "They haven't been invited by Greenlanders. They haven't been invited by the Danes. They just announced that they will go," he told AFP. Greenland's political parties are currently in the process of negotiating a new coalition government following the election, which the Democrats won. "Normally, as a friend or ally, you would stay out of that," Pram Gad said. He said the visit was aimed at showing that "Denmark is not in control of Greenland". - Coveted region - With no officials to welcome the US delegation, "they will be pushing this point that ok, nobody's in control here, there's a need for us to step in", Pram Gad said. He said the choice to send Usha Vance was part of a "sham" charm offensive. She will be "saying nice things about Greenlandic cultural heritage", while "at the same time you send a guy who's an ex-Marine in charge of security at a time when there is no-one to talk to in charge of foreign and security policy for Greenland". Meanwhile, the inclusion of Chris Wright "sends the signal that we're after resources here", he said. Greenland holds massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, including rare earths crucial to the green transition and seen as a potential springboard to independence. Oil and uranium exploration are banned, however, and there are only two active mines due to the complexity of mining in the inhospitable climate. Greenland is also strategically located in the Arctic between North America and Europe, with rising US, Chinese and Russian interest in the region as climate change opens up shipping routes previously covered by ice. According to opinion polls, most of the island's 57,000 inhabitants of Greenland support independence from Denmark but not annexation by Washington. Trump's son, Donald Jr, also made a visit of several hours to Greenland in early January. nzg-po/gil
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Danish police fly extra forces to Greenland ahead of Usha Vance's visit
Danish police sent extra personnel and sniffer dogs to Greenland as the icy island steps up security measures ahead of a planned visit this week by US second lady Usha Vance, the chief spokesman for Denmark's national police said. Rene Gyldensten said on Monday that the extra officers, deployed the day before, were part of regular steps taken during visits by dignitaries to Greenland, a self-governing, mineral-rich territory of American ally Denmark. Citing office procedure, they declined to specify the number of extra police flown on the chartered flight. News reports put the number at dozens of officers. Ms Vance's visit comes at a time when President Donald Trump has suggested the US should take control of Greenland. Greenlandic news outlet Sermitsiaq posted images of two US Hercules workhorse military aircraft on the tarmac on Sunday in Nuuk, the capital, adding that the planes later departed. Ms Vance will leave on Thursday and return on Saturday, a statement from her office said. She and one of her three children will be part of a US delegation that will 'visit historic sites' and 'learn about Greenlandic heritage'. On her visit, Ms Vance will attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland's national dogsled race, featuring about 37 mushers and 444 dogs. The statement said Ms Vance and the US delegation 'are excited to witness this monumental race and celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity'. Media outlets in Greenland and Denmark reported that Ms Vance would be accompanied by Mr Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz. The White House and the National Security Council did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Mr Trump had mused during his first term about buying the world's largest island, even as Denmark, a Nato ally, insisted it was not for sale. The people of Greenland have also firmly rejected Mr Trump's plans. Since returning to the White House, Mr Trump has repeatedly said that the US will come to control Greenland while insisting he supports the idea for strategic national security reasons — not with an eye toward American expansionism.
