Vances' New Greenland Travel Plans Offer Relief for Denmark

This week, US Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, made adjustments to their scheduled travel plans for Greenland. This change has eased some of the rising concerns in Denmark surrounding President Donald Trump's interest in acquiring the island.

Revised Itinerary and Local Sentiment

The Vances are now set to visit a military base located in the remote northwest region of Greenland on Friday. During their visit, they will receive a briefing on Arctic security matters and have the opportunity to meet US service members stationed there. However, they removed stops in more populous areas like Nuuk and Sisimiut from their itinerary, where residents had expressed worries about potential anti-US protests.

International Reactions

The updated travel plans represent a shift from the original three-day visit that included a larger US delegation, featuring prominent figures such as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Although Vice President Vance was not initially scheduled to attend, he chose to join his wife, stating he wanted to participate as well. Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Denmark’s Foreign Minister, commented positively on the new plans, expressing relief that the Vances would be visiting a military base instead of interacting with the Greenlandic society. He noted, "We have nothing against that."

Masaana Egede, head of the local media source Sermitsiaq, added that the revisions will bring relief to many residents on the island. The previous plans had drawn criticism due to rising tensions, particularly from Greenlandic and Danish officials regarding Trump's insistence on taking control of Greenland. Just days before, Trump had insisted that the visit aimed to promote friendship, not provoke any tensions. Despite this assertion, it was met with backlash as discussions about forming a new government in Greenland were still ongoing.

Comments from Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen earlier had condemned the US for applying travel, diplomacy, Denmark