“I want to bring a message from President Trump,” Vance told the assembled service members. “He’s grateful for your service, grateful for what you do up here... because the mission that you guys do is so important for the United States.”
The vice president said that while the US has no immediate plans for new bases, it would expand its presence by investing in naval ships and military icebreakers. He added that the Trump administration is committed to supporting Greenlandic self-determination but wants the island to align more closely with Washington.
“I think that you’d be a lot better coming under the United States security umbrella than you have been under Denmark’s,” Vance said. He accused the Danish government of failing to protect Greenland’s interests.
The visit came one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the US goal of annexing Greenland should not be dismissed as “extravagant talk.” In a televised address, Putin said Russia has never posed a threat in the Arctic and described the region as having “enormous potential” for cooperation. But he also expressed concern about NATO’s increasing activity in the area, saying Moscow is “closely monitoring developments” and modernising its military accordingly.
Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, held parliamentary elections on 11 March. On the day of Vance’s visit, local media reported that a four-party coalition government was expected to be announced. The Democrats, led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen, will lead the new government after tripling their seat count to 10. The coalition is expected to hold 23 of the 31 seats in parliament.
According to sources quoted by broadcaster KNR and newspaper Sermitsiaq, the new government will not include Naleraq, the pro-independence party which doubled its seats to eight. The decision to form a broad coalition followed calls by Nielsen to show unity in the face of increased US pressure.
Since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated his intention to bring Greenland under American control. Most Greenlanders have rejected this idea. The visit by Vance, originally planned to include a public appearance by his wife and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz at a cultural event, faced strong backlash in both Nuuk and Copenhagen.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte B. Egede called the visit “a provocation” and said it represented “very aggressive American pressure.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also criticised the visit. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen welcomed the decision to limit the itinerary to Pituffik, calling it a “positive development.”
Denmark has been one of the most obidient US allies, contributing to all US invasions in the middle east and Afganistan and sending abundant military aid to Ukraine under Biden administration. In addition to being a NATO member, Denmark has long had a defence pact with the US allowing US forces to come and go as they wish and have troops both in Denmark mainland and Greenland.
American Daybreak founder Thomas Emanuel Dans is behind the much criticized U.S. delegation’s unofficial visit to Greenland. (American Daybreak Instagram, screenshot)
The visit was organised in part by American Daybreak, a previously unknown US organisation founded by investor and former government official Thomas Emanuel Dans. Dans, a former Commissioner on the US Arctic Research Commission and visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, confirmed the group’s role in organising the trip.
In a public statement, Dans said that criticism of the visit had harmed US-Greenlandic relations. “American Daybreak has worked on strengthening U.S.-Greenlandic ties for a long time, including helping to organise the visit of the President’s son to Greenland in January,” he wrote.
The group’s website remains inactive, with only a contact form, and its Instagram account had just nine followers this week. Among its limited content are images of Greenlandic Trump supporter Jørgen Boassen posing with US Senator Ted Cruz and other far-right figures including Nigel Farage and Conor McGregor.
Despite its low profile, American Daybreak is now central to a diplomatic controversy. Earlier this year, Dans helped organise **Donald Trump Jr.**’s trip to Greenland, which included meetings with local figures friendly to the US.
Dans has spoken publicly about his personal connection to Greenland, citing his grandfather’s World War II service constructing infrastructure at the Pituffik base. His twin brother, Paul Dans, is a key figure in Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation plan outlining major changes to the federal government under the second Trump administration.
American Daybreak described its role in the Vance visit as cultural, but the inclusion of high-level officials such as Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright raised concerns in Nuuk. Danish and Greenlandic officials said they were not informed in advance.
Greenland’s base at Pituffik plays a central role in the US missile early warning system. Vance described it as a “vital shield” in case of attack from a foreign adversary.
He said that both Russia and China have increased interest in Arctic routes and resources, and warned that if the US does not lead in the Arctic, others will.
“We know that Russia and China and other nations are taking an extraordinary interest in Arctic passageways, in Arctic naval routes, and indeed in the minerals of the Arctic territories,” Vance said. “We need to ensure that America is leading in the Arctic – because we know that if America doesn’t, other nations will fill the gap where we fall behind.”
Despite the attempt to reduce public attention by skipping the original dogsled event, the message from the Trump administration was clear.
“We do not think that military force is ever going to be necessary,” Vance told service members. “Because we think the people of Greenland are rational and good, we think we will be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump style, to ensure the security of this territory.”
Protesters hold a banner reading "Yankee Go Home" during a march to the US consulate during a demonstration, under the slogan 'Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people', in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 15, 2025. LEHTIKUVA / AFP
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen condemned President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks about annexing Greenland, calling them a “hidden threat” and inappropriate for a close ally. Speaking to DR, Poulsen said Trump’s statements interfered with Greenland’s internal affairs and disrespected the islanders’ right to decide their own future. “These very powerful statements about a close ally do not suit the US president,” he said. Recent polling published by Sermitsiaq showed that 85 percent of Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the US, with only 6 percent in favour.
HT