JD Vance announces trip to Greenland and accuses Denmark of ignoring island ‘for far too long’
US vice president JD Vance will fly to Greenland this week, after accusing American and Danish leaders of ignoring the island “for far too long”.
He will join second lady Usha Vance and energy secretary Chris Wright as part of a delegation to visit the Pituffik space base, the US military base in Greenland.
Originally, Ms Vance had planned to attend a popular dog-sled race in Greenland – a move Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen criticised as putting “unacceptable pressure” on the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Announcing the change in destination to the US base, Mr Vance said he didn’t want his wife to “have all that fun by herself,” before adding that “a lot of countries have threatened” the world’s largest island.
Mr Vance then said: “We’re going to check out how things are going there.
“Speaking for President Trump, we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland because we think it’s important to protecting the security of the entire world.”
JD Vance said ‘we want to reinvigorate the security of the people of Greenland’. File pic: Reuters
The vice president also claimed US and Danish leaders had “ignored Greenland for far too long” and that “we think we can take things in a different direction”.
Since US President Donald Trump took office, he has regularly floated the idea of Greenland becoming part of the United States.
Greenland’s strategic location, at the northeastern tip of the North American continent and as the gateway to the Arctic Ocean. as well as its rich mineral resources, would benefit the US.
It also lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, and is vital for the US ballistic missile warning system.
Read more: Why does Trump want to take over Greenland?
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From 13 March: Trump thinks Greenland will be annexed
The governments of both Greenland and Denmark have voiced opposition to such a move.
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede told newspaper Sermitsiaq that his nation has tried “all diplomatic and democratic options”, but Mr Trump’s mission is “to own and control Greenland”.
And on Tuesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen accused the US of putting “unacceptable pressure” on Greenland.
Waltz omitted from announcement
White House national security adviser Mike Waltz was originally set to take part in the Greenland visit.
However, his name was omitted from the latest announcement, according to the Associated Press (AP).
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It comes after a US journalist was added to a Signal group chat where US officials discussed airstrikes on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
It is unclear if he is still going, or whether his travel plans were altered after the leak.
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Speaking on Tuesday evening, Mr Waltz said he took responsibility for creating the group, adding: “I built the group. So look, that’s the part that we have to figure out…
“Embarrassing? Yes, but Pete [Hegseth, US defence secretary] and I are veterans.”
It remains unclear why the officials chose to chat via Signal instead of secure government channels typically used for sensitive discussions.
On Tuesday, Mr Trump told Sky News’ US partner, NBC News, that the lapse “turned out not to be a serious one” and expressed his continued support for Mr Waltz.
Charlie Kirk has been posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Donald Trump.
The USA’s highest civilian honour was received by the conservative activist’s widow, Erika, at the White House.
Mr Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on 10 September while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.
He founded Turning Point USA and toured American university campuses, debating students about current affairs.
Erika Kirk at the White House. Pic: Reuters
Erika Kirk and Donald Trump. Pic: Reuters
Addressing those attending the ceremony in the White House rose garden, the US president said they were there to “honour and remember a fearless warrior for liberty” and a “beloved leader who galvanised the next generation”.
He said Mr Kirk’s name was being entered “forever into the eternal roster of true American heroes”.
Mr Trump described Charlie Kirk as an “American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest calibre”.
He said his nation had been “robbed” of an “extraordinary champion”.
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Has Charlie Kirk become a MAGA ‘martyr’?
And Mr Trump said Mr Kirk was assassinated in the “prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith, and relentlessly fighting for a better and stronger America”.
The ceremony coincided with what would have been Mr Kirk’s 32nd birthday.
Mr Trump described Erika Kirk, now head of Turning Point USA, as someone who had “endured unspeakable hardship with unbelievable strength”.
Read more:
What do we know about Erika Kirk?
Charlie Kirk’s movement is growing in wake of his assassination
Charlie Kirk. File pic: AP
A 22-year-old man, Tyler Robinson, from the city of Washington in Utah has been charged with Mr Kirk’s murder. Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty.
At a memorial event held at a stadium in Arizona, Erika Kirk told an enormous crowd she forgave her husband’s killer.
“The answer to hate is not hate,” she said.
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