Protesters gather in front of the US Consulate on March 15, 2025 under the slogan “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland” in Nuke, Greenland.
Christian Clint Selbeck | Via Reuters
The fight over Greenland is expected to be strengthened this week as the Danish prime minister travels to the Arctic Island a few days after US vice president JD Vance ignored the vast territory and condemned the Scandinavian country.
The Danish government announced over the weekend that Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen will visit Greenland from Wednesday to Friday. Her visit comes amid continuing our interest in the island where US President Donald Trump said he should be part of the United States
During her visit, Fredericksen will “discuss the cooperation between Greenland and Denmark” with the island’s new Prime Minister Jens Frederick Nielsen, the Danish government said.
“We look forward to continuing our close and reliable cooperation between Greenland and Denmark. Jens Frederick Nielsen and the rest of the Greenland government,” Fredericken said ahead of the trip.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen will attend a press conference with the Prime Minister in Berlin, Germany on January 28, 2025.
nadja wohlleben | Reuters
“Greenland has gone through a good democratic process and has formed a wide range of government. It is important to visit and greet the future chair of the Greenland government as soon as possible,” she mentioned the Snap election in early March.
In the vote, which was contested primarily by independent parties, the Pro-Business Democrats won the largest share of the seats in Inatsisatut, a 31-seat assembly.
The party supports a progressive process of independence from Denmark, but the new prime minister, Jens Frederick Nielsen, repeated comments from his predecessor. The island is “not for sale and never sold.”
Greenland’s independence sentiment means that Denmark should be careful about the future of the island, but that is supported. A recent poll shows that the majority of Greenlanders don’t want the island to leave Denmark and become part of the US
Danish leader Fredericksen said the island has her “deepest respect” for how its people and politicians deal with repeated attempts to repeatedly attempt an island rich in rare earth and minerals, what she describes as “a great pressure from the United States.”
“It’s a situation where we all want unity across political parties. Working together across the nation in the Danish territory, and in a respectful and equal way,” Fredericksen said.
Although Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, it has historical ties with the United States, which has housed American military facilities since World War II.
The growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic between Russia, China and the US also strengthens the appeal of the islands on a potentially highly advantageous transport route through the Arctic Ocean.
Vance’s visit stirs Demark
The decision to feel a presence on the Danish island comes days after VP Vance and his wife visited the island and caused surprises in Greenland and Denmark.
Vance on Friday accused Denmark of not investing in Greenland’s security and argued that other European allies had not responded to defence spending.
“Denmark doesn’t do a good job of keeping Greenland safe,” Vance told service members at Pitafik Space Station in Greenland on Friday.
US Vice President JD Vance will tour the US military Pitafic Space Station in Greenland on March 28, 2025.
Jim Watson | Via Reuters
“We know that our European allies don’t walk frequently. They are not in tune with military spending, and Denmark has dedicated the resources necessary to maintain this base and maintain its troops, and the resources needed to keep the people of Greenland safe from many very aggressive invasions from Russia, China and other invasions that have an interest in the region,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to control his autonomous Danish territory, describing his prospects as an “absolute need” for US national security.
The president once again told NBC News in an interview on Saturday, as he has not been denied US rejection in Denmark and Greenland. “I’m getting Greenland. Yeah, 100%.”
He said, “It’s a good chance that we can do it without military strength… I won’t take anything off the table.”
Vice President of the United States J.D. V. V. D. Vance (c) will pose with Second Lady Ushavance (second L), National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (third L), wife, former Homeland Security Advisor Julia Neschwatt (L), and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright (R).
Jim Watson | Getty Images
Although Greenland’s economy is primarily concentrated in the fishing industry, the sediments of rare earths and important minerals used for electronics, energy and defense have encouraged international interest. Global warming and ice losses make the world’s largest untapped, important mineral reserves more accessible and are a major target for the Trump administration.
– April Roach and Sophie Kidelin of CNBC contributed reporting to this story
