US Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife were scheduled to visit a US military base in Greenland. The trip was cancelled due to discontent among locals, both Greenlanders and Danes, who were outraged that the original itinerary had been developed without their consent.
The changes to the couple's visit to the semi-autonomous Danish territory come as relations between the United States and the Scandinavian country worsened after US President Donald Trump repeatedly argued that the United States should control the mineral-rich region, a traditional US ally and NATO member.
Friday's one-day visit to the U.S. Space Force base at Pituffik on Greenland's northwest coast eliminated the risk of breaking possible diplomatic taboos by sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation.
It will also reduce the likelihood that Mr. Vance and his wife will encounter local residents outraged by Mr. Trump's comments about annexation.
Ahead of the visit, four of the five parties elected to Greenland's parliament earlier this month agreed to form a new broad coalition government, uniting to oppose Trump's plans for the territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday that the visit, originally planned for three days, had created “unacceptable pressure.”
On Thursday, Danish public broadcaster DR quoted her as saying: “We do want to cooperate with the Americans in the area of defence and security for the kingdom. But Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
Usha Vance originally planned to compete solo in the Awannaata Kimussersu Dog Sled Race in Sisimiut.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
