The Many Reasons Why J.D. and Usha Vance Were in Greenland.

By Reuben Gilhooley

Vice-President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance disembark from Airforce Two at Pituffik Space Base on 28th March 2025. Photograph: Pool Photo

Second Lady Usha Vance’s proposed trip to Greenland for, supposed, cultural enrichment has been cancelled amid fears of protests. Vice President J.D. Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Walz, the Secretaries of Energy, and the Army opted instead to use the opportunity to visit the remote Pituffik space force base, in the far Northwest of the territory, to “check out the security of Greenland”. In, now, standard procedure for the White House the changes to the itinerary were announced by the VP in a video on X.

In a speech given to the assembled troops, Vance criticised the Danish government for not keeping Greenlanders safe from Russia and China. Later, Putin announced his implicit support for Trump’s Greenland annexation plan.

Though characterised by the Trump administration as a private visit, the Government of Denmark, as well as the Home Rule Government of Greenland have attacked the move as putting unacceptable pressure on Greenland in the context of US annexation demands. Previously, the trip was thought to be a sort of “meet the public” royal-esque tour, but has been shifted to a more basic military tour due to fears of backlash from the Greenlandic people.

In a speech given to the assembled troops, Vance criticised the Danish government for not keeping Greenlanders safe from Russia and China. Later, Putin announced his implicit support for Trump’s Greenland annexation plan. This follows comments of the Greenlanders being treated like second-class citizens and saying to Denmark that “you have not done a good job”.

Frederik Nielsen, the recent winner of the Greenlandic Premiership and leader of the recently announced coalition government, which contains all parties in the Greenlandic Parliament represented other than the pro-independence Naleraq party. Across the, albeit small, population of Greenland a recent opinion poll revealed that Nielsen's anti-Trumpian stance enjoys enormous popularity with 85% of those asked directly opposed to annexation by the US.

Trump’s ambitions take inspiration from over 160 years of American foreign policy. In 1868 Secretary of State William H. Seward, who oversaw the Alaska Purchase, commissioned 'A Report on the Resources of Iceland and Greenland advocated for the annexation of Iceland and Greenland' which advocated for the annexation of Iceland and Greenland due to its “unusual healthfulness" and large amounts of fish, game, and minerals. The report also argued that successful annexation and integration of the islands would encourage the newly confederated Canada to voluntarily join the Union. Under the Monroe Doctrine, the United States had opposed European colonialism projects in the Western Hemisphere, with Danish Greenland being an example of such a project. Despite negotiations reportedly being “nearly complete”, Seward’s bid failed amid widespread opposition by House Republicans.

The US has a complex history of territorial negotiation with Denmark in particular. For example, after a proposed purchase of the Danish West Indies failed in 1902, following a rejection by the Danish Parliament, Secretary of State Robert Langsing signed an article of the 'Treaty of the Danish West Indies' that "the Government of the United States of America will not object to the Danish Government extending their political and economic interests to the whole of Greenland”, in order to secure successful purchase of the US Virgin Islands from the Danes.

In the Second World War, the US established a series of military bases without the permission of the Danish government-in-exile, making further preparations including seizing Greenland to create a defensive perimeter around the US. As part of this initiative, US servicemen were discharged and sent to Greenland as “volunteers” to avoid direct links to a US sanctioned invasion. These actions were labelled by Trade Minister Jens Otto Krag as “de-facto Annexation”, as it gave the illusion of a US-Danish alliance, thereby putting a target on Denmark’s back and forcing the governments hand into joining NATO.

During the Cold War, Greenland continued to be seen as a “military necessity” for the security of the US, with Washington offering $100 million in gold bullion for the purchase, however this was rejected by Danish Foreign Minister Gustav Rasmussen. Particularly after the loss of the American nuclear monopoly, Greenland became vital for strategy as being on the path across the arctic circle of Soviet ICBMs launched at the US homeland. In the 60’s, it was proposed that missile launching stations would be established in Northwest Greenland for second-strike capabilities, but this was abandoned after being rejected by the Danish government.

Trump has refused to rule out direct military force to annex the region, saying in a speech to Congress, “One way or the other, we’re going to get" Greenland.

Trump started proposals of annexation in 2017, with it ramping up going into his second term as he seeks to align himself with the expansionist President William McKinley, who’s term from 1897 until his assassination in 1901 saw the annexations of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, and Hawaii, as well the raising of protectionist tariffs and a renewed commitment to the gold standard. On December 22, 2024, Trump posted to Truth Social that the United States' "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." In response, Danish minister of defence Troels Lund Poulsen announced an increase in spending on defence in Greenland of "double-digit billion amount" in Danish Krone.

On the 7th of January, online right wing personality Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump jr. arrived in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, and hosted a free lunch at a four star hotel, the Hans Egede, as well as handing out MAGA hats. This faced widespread criticism as many of the Greenlanders who were invited came for a free meal, with them being homeless or otherwise vulnerable, with the notable exception of a Nuuk drug dealer, and were not actually in favour of annexation.

Trump has refused to rule out direct military force to annex the region, saying in a speech to Congress, “One way or the other, we’re going to get" Greenland. In practice, if he actually wishes to go through with annexation, Trump will likely use economic force rather than military as he risks provoking a coordinated NATO response.

Denmark is also expected to use Ozempic, an appetite suppression drug popular in the US for weight loss, which was developed in Denmark by the Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, as leverage to deter US aggression, potentially banning exports to the US as punishment. The Danish government is open to an expanded US presence, as the existing treaty structures allow for, but say they will not budge on matters of sovereignty. I would argue that Vance and in particular Walz being sent to Greenland is a way of getting them out of the spotlight and any potential hearings with Congress. In asserting a renewed sense of hawkishness and pro-expansionism, the Trump administration hopes to distract attention back home.

Photograph: Pool Photo