Great to see JD Vance, the Vice President of the United States, visiting the Pituffik space base in Greenland! His visit is set for this coming Friday. The visit could help temper increasingly heated rhetoric between the United States and Denmark over U.S. desires to purchase Greenland. Greenland is specifically concerned that Vance will use this high-profile trip to further US claims on Greenland. Leaders in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, and Copenhagen will likely be watching these developments very closely.
Our new welcome sign will say, “Welcome to the top of the world. Located fewer than 932 miles (1,500 km) by air from the Greenland capital of Nuuk, the Pituffik space base is approximately 750 miles (1,207 km) north of the Arctic Circle. It serves as the backbone of US missile detection.
This visit is a notable break from what has often been a close-knit defense alliance between Denmark and the United States. Copenhagen is in a difficult position. They need to shore up at least some of their territory in the face of a more aggressive US Administration.
“For Denmark, this is the biggest foreign policy crisis since the second world war,” – Jon Rahbek Clemmensen, Head of Research at the Center for Arctic Security Studies.
The stakes could not be higher, given that this visit is much more than a standard – albeit important – diplomatic convening. It is an exceptionally high-profile delegation. We hope Vice President Vance will be accompanied by other senior officials. Among them are National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Sadly for him, Danish politicians won’t be on hand to greet him at the new Pituffik space base.
One Danish government official, speaking under condition of anonymity, told the Atlantic that they were very upset about the trip.
“It’s safe to say we would rather not have him [Vance] in Greenland,” – A government source in Copenhagen.
The long-planned visit comes amid a surge of US interest in Greenland. This new interest is largely because of the island’s tactical location and all of its possible resources. This interest has been made clear already by none other than former President Donald Trump himself.
“It’s an island that from a defensive posture, and even offensive posture, is something we need, especially with the world the way it is, and we’re going to have to have it.” – Donald Trump
Denmark is not budging on Greenland.
“Greenland is part of the Danish kingdom. That is not going to change.” – Mette Frederiksen
Denmark is in the midst of a surreal challenge. It finds itself at a critical juncture in its foreign policy with arguably their most important ally. Her visit shines a light on the complicated geopolitical realities facing the region. What’s more, global powers are now racing against one another to expand their influence and control over this strategically vital region.