US Vice President J.D. Vance said he would join his wife on a trip to Greenland, hinting in a video posted online that global security was under threat.
“We're going to check in and see how things are going,” Mr. Vance said in a video posted on social media.
“On behalf of President Trump, we are committed to improving the security of the people of Greenland, as we believe it is important to protect the security of the entire world.”
US President Donald Trump has angered many in Europe by arguing that his country should control the self-governing, mineral-rich territory of America's ally Denmark.
As sea routes to the Arctic and North Atlantic move closer to North America, Greenland is becoming increasingly strategically important as both China and Russia seek access to its waterways and nearby natural resources.
The office of Second Lady Usha Vance said on Sunday that she would travel to Greenland on Thursday and return on Saturday. Ms. Vance and one of her three children will visit historic sites and learn about Greenlandic culture.
The US vice president noted that he does not want his wife to “have fun alone” and added that he plans to visit a Space Force base on the northwest coast of Greenland.
Mr. Vance stressed that Greenland is threatened not only by the United States and Canada, but also by other countries.
Ahead of the vice president's announcement of his intention to join his wife, the discontent of the Greenlandic and Danish governments grew: On Monday evening, the Greenlandic government posted on Facebook that it had “not extended any invitations for visits, either private or official.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in an interview on national television on Tuesday that it was “unacceptable pressure.”
However, Mark Jacobsen, a professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, said Mr Vance was allowed to visit the space base because of a 1951 agreement between Denmark and the US on the defence of Greenland.
“The issue here is timing,” he said. “Greenland and Denmark have made it clear that they do not want a US visit at this time when Greenland has no government.”
Mr Vance said Danish and North American leaders had “neglected” Greenland for “too long”.
During his first term, Mr Trump floated the idea of buying the world's largest island, although NATO ally Denmark
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
