Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday issued a sharp rebuke of the Trump administration's renewed efforts to assert influence over Greenland, calling a forthcoming visit by senior U.S. officials "unacceptable pressure" on both Denmark and its autonomous Arctic territory.
The scheduled visit, set to begin Thursday, includes Usha Vance-wife of Vice President JD Vance-National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright. The delegation plans to visit a U.S. military base and participate in cultural events in Greenland, including attending a dogsled race. Usha Vance described the trip as a chance to "celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity."
"This is clearly not a visit that is about what Greenland needs or wants," Frederiksen said in a televised statement. "It is unacceptable pressure being put on Greenland and Denmark in this situation. And it's a pressure we will stand against."
Frederiksen's comments mark the most direct criticism yet from Copenhagen since President Donald Trump revived his proposal to acquire Greenland. Trump, who previously raised the idea during his first term, has recently characterized obtaining the territory as "an absolute necessity" for U.S. national security and has refused to rule out using economic coercion or military force.
The Danish prime minister noted that Greenland is currently without a fully formed government following a recent general election and said the territory's representatives had clearly communicated that "they do not want a visit right now." She added, "You cannot make a private visit with official representatives from another country."
The government of Greenland echoed that sentiment in a formal statement posted Monday on Facebook, stating: "Naalakkersuisut, the government of Greenland, has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official." The post urged all countries to "respect this process" of coalition building.
President Trump rejected the characterization of the trip as provocative. "It's purely friendship," he told reporters Monday, insisting that the American delegation had been invited.
But Múte B. Egede, the outgoing prime minister of Greenland, rejected Trump's claim, calling the trip a "provocation" and "highly aggressive." He said, "We are now at a level where this cannot in any way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician's wife. The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us."
The dispute comes as the U.S. has intensified strategic interest in Greenland due to its abundant critical minerals and its geographic role in U.S. defense planning, particularly missile defense systems. Trump officials have increasingly pointed to Greenland's resource base as justification for deeper U.S. involvement.
Frederiksen emphasized Denmark's desire to maintain strong U.S. relations, citing the 1951 defense agreement that governs U.S. military presence on the island. But she said the visit could not be seen as respectful diplomacy. "When you make a visit like this and the Greenlandic politicians say they don't want this visit, you can't interpret that as respectful," she said.
In recent weeks, protests have erupted in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, with demonstrators waving national flags and holding signs that read "We are not for sale," "Respect Greenland's sovereignty," and a twist on Trump's campaign slogan: "Make America Go Away."
