On Friday, Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha are traveling to Greenland, an island of under 60,000 people that has proven crucial to President Donald Trump’s foreign policy.
The Vances are visiting Pituffik Space Force Base to meet with U.S. service troops and get an Arctic security problems briefing.
A senior White House official stated, “The Vice President and Second Lady are embarking on a historic expedition with their visit to Greenland, where the vice president will emphasize the importance of bolstering Artic security in places like Pituffik Space Base.” Sadly, Danish politicians have spent decades mistreating the Greenlandic people, treating them like second class citizens and letting island infrastructure deteriorate. The Vice President should also stress these issues.
Originally scheduled to go to Greenland on a cultural excursion to see a dog sledding race, Usha Vance would have traveled without the vice president. The vice president decided to come earlier this week; so, the trip was changed to emphasize national security.
According to the White House, Vance is the most senior person ever to go as far north as Pituffik.
Vance’s first overseas trip to Paris and Germany caused a stir with his harsh comments about Europe, which froze the U.S. ties with some countries but triggered a European financing mobilization for its own defense.
In his second administration, Trump has set out to seize control of Greenland from Denmark.
He said to Oval Office reporters, “We need Greenland for national security and international security.”
I suppose we’ll go as far as necessary, he said. Greenland is required. The world also need us to possess Greenland, including Denmark. Denmark must let us control Greenland. And, you know, we’ll see what comes next. “Without Greenland, we cannot have excellent worldwide security.”
From a security perspective, I see it; we must be there, Trump said.
Greenland depends mostly on Danish welfare, which now funds around half of its yearly budget, or approximately $700 million.
In January, Denmark said it will invest an extra $2 billion to strengthen island defenses in reaction to Trump’s declared goals.
The Trump administration has dangled billions for Greenland to spend in growing its natural resources—rare Earth minerals and oil and gas deposits.
Given that 80% of the island is covered in a layer of ice, though, mining Greenland has been exceedingly challenging.
Earlier this week, Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede referred to the planned Vance visit as “very aggressive American pressure against the Greenlandic community” and urged European politicians to oppose it.
Trump created the Space Force in 2019 to protect against encroachment on American interests in space around Earth. China and Russia have increased its Arctic presence in recent years by making investments in icebreakers, new nuclear submarutes, and rare Earth materials.