President Trump's attempt to foster relations with Greenland might be pushing the island further from the U.S., according to local officials.
Trump's Greenland Diplomacy: A Misstep that Backfires
Trump's Greenland Diplomacy: A Misstep that Backfires
The planned U.S. delegation visit to Greenland faces backlash as officials label it "aggressive."
March 24, 2025, 10:26 a.m. ET – Over a century and a half, the U.S. has eyed Greenland for potential acquisition, with interest resurfacing in recent years as Greenlanders grapple with their complex colonial ties to Denmark. President Trump’s latest gambit—a visit by a high-profile U.S. delegation—seems to have misfired dramatically.
Scheduled for this week, the delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, was intended to be a goodwill gesture, featuring events like a dogsled race and a visit to a U.S. military base. Instead, this move has triggered a different reaction altogether.
The Greenlandic government has swiftly responded to the planned visit, condemning it as “aggressive" and displaying overt hostility toward America's intentions. Officials signal a desire for support from Europe, while marks of resentment toward U.S. tactics grow stronger.
Lars Trier Mogensen, a Copenhagen political analyst, remarked, “This will clearly have the opposite effect of what the Americans want,” indicating that such pressure might deepen Greenland’s ties with Denmark rather than draw the island closer to the U.S.
Notably, expectations for increased cooperation and business with the U.S. that were palpable just a year ago now seem to be rapidly diminishing. As President Trump continues to emphasize his intentions to acquire the territory, the momentum may instead be driving Greenland away from American influence and toward stronger affiliations with its colonial past.
Scheduled for this week, the delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, was intended to be a goodwill gesture, featuring events like a dogsled race and a visit to a U.S. military base. Instead, this move has triggered a different reaction altogether.
The Greenlandic government has swiftly responded to the planned visit, condemning it as “aggressive" and displaying overt hostility toward America's intentions. Officials signal a desire for support from Europe, while marks of resentment toward U.S. tactics grow stronger.
Lars Trier Mogensen, a Copenhagen political analyst, remarked, “This will clearly have the opposite effect of what the Americans want,” indicating that such pressure might deepen Greenland’s ties with Denmark rather than draw the island closer to the U.S.
Notably, expectations for increased cooperation and business with the U.S. that were palpable just a year ago now seem to be rapidly diminishing. As President Trump continues to emphasize his intentions to acquire the territory, the momentum may instead be driving Greenland away from American influence and toward stronger affiliations with its colonial past.
