U.S. visit to Greenland criticized

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede has denounced an upcoming visit by a high-profile United States delegation to the semiautonomous Danish territory, calling it a "demonstration of power" that escalates tension in the Arctic region.

Usha Vance, the wife of the U.S. Vice-President JD Vance, will lead a mission to Greenland later this week, joined by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

The trip, described by the White House as a "private visit", has drawn sharp criticism from Greenland's leaders, who view it as political interference.

Egede called the visit a "provocation" and said his caretaker government would not meet with the U.S. officials, reported Reuters.

Since returning to the White House on Jan 20, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect the U.S. taking control of Greenland, citing its strategic position between Europe and North America and its mineral wealth as reasons for such a move.

Both Danish and Greenlandic authorities have firmly rejected discussion of a transfer of ownership.

"The very aggressive American pressure against Greenlandic society is now so serious that the level cannot be raised any higher," Egede told local newspaper Sermitsiaq on Sunday. "Until recently, we could trust the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we enjoyed working closely. But that time is over.

"The only purpose is to show a demonstration of power to us, and the signal is not to be misunderstood. It should be said clearly that our integrity and democracy must be respected without foreign interference."

The timing of the visit is particularly sensitive because Greenland's government remains in a caretaker role following the March 11 victory of the Democrats, a pro-business party advocating gradual independence from Denmark.

Jens Frederik Nielsen, the leader of the Democrat party, called for political unity, saying the U.S. delegation's visit during coalition talks and ahead of next week's municipal elections "once again shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people".

During the three-day trip, which is set to run from Thursday to Saturday, the delegation will tour historical sites, learn about the territory's heritage, visit a U.S. military base, and attend Greenland's national dogsled race, said the White House.

Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the delegation is "confident that this visit presents an opportunity to build on partnerships that respects Greenland's self-determination and advances economic cooperation".

While Hughes emphasized diplomatic cooperation, public sentiment remains skeptical, with just 6 percent of Greenlanders supporting closer U.S. ties, according to a poll conducted in January.

Responding to the planned visit, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized that "this is something we take seriously", adding that while Denmark welcomes U.S. cooperation, it must respect "the fundamental rules of sovereignty".

Frederiksen stressed that any discussions about Greenland would involve both Copenhagen and the incoming Greenlandic administration.