US cancels Greenlandic visits, prioritizes military base trip
The USA delegation has canceled its visit to the Greenlandic community. Envoys from the White House will only visit the military base at Pituffik. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen considers this decision positive.
- Change of US visit plans: The United States delegation has cancelled visits to Nuuk and Sisimiut in favour of visiting the American military base at Pituffik in Greenland.
- Reaction from Denmark: Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the head of Danish diplomacy, described this decision as a "masterstroke" that de-escalates tensions.
- Political context: Greenlandic politicians, including outgoing Prime Minister Múte B. Egede, perceived the visit as provocative, given Donald Trump's plans for Greenland's future, and residents of Sisimiut were planning protests.
Why did the USA change their visit plans to Greenland?
The head of Danish diplomacy, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, expressed satisfaction with the US delegation's decision to change its visit plans to Greenland. Instead of visiting Greenlandic communities, the delegation visited the American military base at Pituffik. Rasmussen described this decision as a "masterstroke" that effectively de-escalated tensions.
What were the reactions to the US delegation's visit?
The decision to alter the visit plans met with various reactions. The outgoing Prime Minister of Greenland, Múte B. Egede, who deemed the original plans aggressive and provocative, emphasised that Greenlandic politicians are currently busy discussing forming a new government. Residents of Sisimiut announced anti-American demonstrations, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticised the visit as "unacceptable pressure".
Visit to Pituffik base: Surprising change of plan, Danes satisfied
The White House announced that Vance's visit, accompanied by his wife Usha, will occur instead of the previously announced visit of the US delegation led by the Second Lady. According to the original plans, the delegation would also have included, among others, Energy Minister Chris Wright and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The Americans were to tour Greenland's historical sites and watch a dog sled race.
