Usha Vance experienced a setback during her solo trip to Greenland when locals declined to meet her. US officials struggled to find people willing to meet the Second Lady during her visit.
Ms Vance, accompanied by one of her sons, had planned to explore the historic and cultural sites of the Danish territory from Thursday to Saturday this week. However, the residents seemed uninterested in engaging, leaving officials searching for hosts.
The visit, which included attending the popular Avannaata Qimussersu dogsled race in Sisimiut, had to be cancelled. Officials reportedly knocked on doors in Nuuk, the capital, but were met with polite refusals. Danish television station TV 2 reported that the locals did not show much interest in meeting Ms Vance.
Revised Greenland itinerary focused on military visit
As a result, the visit, originally scheduled for three days, was cut down to just one. During the shortened visit, Ms Vance and her son will visit an American military base in Greenland. Vice President JD Vance will join them for this part of the trip.
Tensions between the US and Greenland have been rising, especially since Donald Trump’s remarks about the US potentially controlling the island. His comments seem to have influenced the cold reception Ms Vance received.
Originally, the visit aimed to strengthen cooperation between the US and Greenland. However, the cancellation of events, such as the dogsled race, highlighted the growing diplomatic strain. The new schedule now includes a visit to the US Space Force base at Pituffik, on Greenland’s northwest coast, which will help avoid diplomatic issues by limiting the visit to a military location.
Diplomatic Tensions and Greenland’s Political Response
The change in plans reduces the chance of Ms Vance and her son encountering local resentment. Greenland’s political climate has shifted since Trump’s comments, with four of the five parties in Greenland’s parliament forming a coalition against the idea of US control over the territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed concern over the pressure the visit put on Greenland. She stated, “We want to work with the Americans on defence and security, but Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
Trump reiterated his desire for US control over Greenland on Wednesday. When asked if the people of Greenland would be interested in US citizenship, he replied that he wasn’t sure but believed the US should pursue it.
