Trump defends Greenland visit as protection plea sparks debate
President Donald Trump dismissed criticism regarding the planned visit of the American delegation to Greenland, claiming that the island's residents themselves are reaching out to the USA for protection. He assured that the visit by the Vice President's wife and other U.S. representatives is the result of an invitation and not an act of provocation.
Trump firmly rejected allegations that the planned visit of the U.S. delegation to Greenland could be seen as a provocation. According to the American President, it is the Greenlanders themselves who are initiating contact with the United States, asking for support in security matters. "We’re dealing with a lot of people from Greenland that would like to see something happen with respect to their being properly protected and properly taken care of. They’re calling us. We’re not calling them. And we were invited over there, and I thought it would be great," he said during a cabinet meeting.
The official purpose of the delegation's visit, led by Usha Vance, the wife of the U.S. Vice President, is to participate in the national dog sled race scheduled for Thursday. Trump also suggested that Secretary of State Marco Rubio might be part of the delegation, although earlier reports only mentioned the participation of the President's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
When asked about the specific source of the invitation, Trump stated that it came from "many, many requests from many, many people, some officials too." However, this statement contradicts the official stance of the Greenlandic authorities.
Opposition from Greenlandic and Danish authorities
Both Danish and Greenlandic authorities have expressed critical positions towards the planned visit of the American delegation. The acting Prime Minister of Greenland, Mute B. Egede, published a statement on Facebook, emphasizing that the visit cannot be treated as purely private. He also noted that until a new government is formed in Greenland, there will be no meeting with the U.S. delegation. Elections took place on the island, which is an autonomous territory dependent on Denmark, in early March, and the new government has yet to be constituted.
The Prime Minister of Greenland called on the island's residents to "unite in defense of the country," referring to an anti-American demonstration that took place in mid-March in front of the U.S. consulate in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. Around 1,000 Greenlanders participated in the protest, which is a significant number for this small community.
Despite the clear opposition from local authorities, Trump again suggested the possibility of the United States acquiring Greenland in the future. "I think Greenland is going to be something that maybe is in our future. It’s important from the standpoint of international security. And if you look at the ships outside of Greenland, you have Russia, you have China, you have lots of different people and lots of different places, and it cannot go on the way it is. It’s not going to go on the way it is. I’ll make a statement — it’s not going to happen. So they’re going there, and that’s purely friendship," the American President stated.
