US President Donald Trump has insisted that sending a delegation to Greenland was not a provocation, despite criticism from Danish officials.
Trump reiterated his interest in acquiring the arctic territory from NATO ally Denmark, citing its growing strategic importance due to climate change and the increasing presence of Russia and China.
Greenland’s prime minister and Denmark’s foreign minister condemned the planned visit by Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance.
However, Trump maintained that the visit was a friendly gesture, stating, ” This is friendliness, not provocation.
“We’ve been invited, and they really like the idea because they have been somewhat abandoned.
“And I think Greenland is something that may be in our future. I think it’s important from the standpoint of international security,” he said.
Trump has previously refused to rule out the use of force in acquiring Greenland, which has sparked concerns among Danish officials.
The US delegation’s visit aims to strengthen ties with Greenland and explore opportunities for cooperation, but critics view it as a thinly veiled attempt to exert influence over the territory.