Vance's icy reception: Vice President's brief and controversial visit to Greenland
The plane carrying U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance landed on Friday at 3 PM Greenwich Mean Time at the American Pituffik Space Force Base in Greenland. "It’s cold as s— here! Nobody told me," Vance reportedly remarked as he disembarked to commence the contentious visit.
What you need to know
- U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance has arrived in Greenland, as confirmed by Danish media.
- Vance's visit is stirring controversy on the island.
- Due to the reluctance of the island's inhabitants, there has been a restriction on the Vice President's visit to the American military base only.
Why is Vance's visit controversial?
Just after landing at the American base, J.D. Vance highlighted that he is the first Vice President to visit Greenland. He also expressed gratitude to the American soldiers for their service at the base.
"The president is really interested in Arctic security, as you all know, and it’s only going to get bigger over the coming decades," Vance added.
The visit to Greenland has sparked considerable controversy
Vice President Vance's visit to Greenland is generating significant controversy and opposition from local politicians. Just before Vance's arrival, leaders of four of the five parties in parliament signed a coalition agreement to form a government. The Prime Minister will be 33-year-old Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, who won the elections at the beginning of March.
The coalition agreement emphasised that "Greenland belongs to its inhabitants," asserting that in international matters concerning the Arctic, it is the Greenlandic government, not Copenhagen, that should have the final say. In the security section, it was affirmed that the island is part of the "Western alliance."
Waltz accompanies Vance
Accompanying Vance on his trip to Greenland are his wife and - according to Greenlandic radio - U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Republican Senator from Utah Mike Lee.
Initially, it was the Vice President's wife, Usha Vance, who was intended to be the focal point of the trip to Greenland. She was to observe the renowned dog sled race in Sisimiut, visit a local museum, and go shopping. However, it transpired that her presence was not welcomed in Greenland, and there would be no one to accompany or guide her around the island.
When it became evident that the planned visit of the Second Lady might turn into a major diplomatic failure, the plans were altered, and ultimately, only the entire delegation led by J.D. Vance was sent to the American Pituffik Base in Greenland. The visit is expected to last only a few hours.
