COPENHAGEN: Denmark on Wednesday (Mar 26) welcomed a US determination to restrict a deliberate go to to Greenland to a navy base after the plans triggered a spat between Copenhagen and the White Home amid President Donald Trump’s curiosity in taking up the island.
Denmark’s prime minister mentioned on Tuesday {that a} scheduled go to by Usha Vance, the spouse of US Vice President JD Vance, to a well-liked dog-sled race in Greenland this week was a part of an “unacceptable pressure” on the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
The White Home on Tuesday introduced that the delegation would as a substitute be headed by JD Vance himself, however that it will solely go to the US House Base at Pituffik in northern Greenland and never the dog-sled race, an enormous annual sporting occasion.
“I believe it’s totally optimistic that the Individuals cancelled their go to to the Greenlandic society. As an alternative, they may go to their very own base, Pituffik, and we now have nothing towards that,” Danish International Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen instructed broadcaster DR.
Polls have proven that almost all Greenlanders oppose changing into a part of the US, and anti-American protesters, some sporting ‘Make America Go Away’ caps and holding ‘Yankees go house’ banners, have just lately staged a few of the largest demonstrations ever seen in Greenland.
Comparable protests had been deliberate in reference to the Vance’s go to.
DE-ESCALATION
The change of plans was seen as a de-escalation of the diplomatic dispute.
Ole Waever, professor on the College of Copenhagen, mentioned there had been widespread considerations about “a smooth energy operation and creeping American infiltration” that many Greenlanders had discovered threatening.
“The credit score for the optimistic flip have to be given to Greenland … Caps off to them for that,” he mentioned, referring to the deliberate protests.
Marc Jacobsen, affiliate professor on the Royal Danish Defence School, additionally mentioned the adjustments had been a reduction.
“It appears they’ve misinterpret the temper in Greenland,” he mentioned.
The organisers of the dog-sled race mentioned in an announcement on Wednesday that they’d acquired grants from the American consulate in Nuuk.
Since Donald Trump Jr’s personal go to to the mineral-rich island in January, Trump has consistently talked of annexing Greenland and urged its residents to hitch the US.
Considered one of two US Hercules navy transport planes that arrived in Nuuk late on Sunday with bulletproof autos onboard has left Nuuk airport, FlightRadar knowledge confirmed.
Greenland’s performing head of presidency, Mute Egede, had labelled the visit a “provocation”, because it coincides with authorities coalition talks following a latest parliamentary election in addition to municipal elections due subsequent week.
Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the White Home Nationwide Safety Council, mentioned on Tuesday the delegation aimed to “study Greenland, its tradition, historical past, and other people.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has disputed the notion of a non-public go to with official representatives and has repeatedly mentioned that Greenland ought to decide its personal future.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede has additionally pressured that the island just isn’t on the market and that it’s as much as its individuals to determine their future.
Greenland is strategically vital for the US navy and its ballistic missile early-warning system, for the reason that shortest route from Europe to North America runs through the island.
A 1951 settlement between the US and Denmark established a US proper to maneuver round freely and assemble navy bases in Greenland so long as Denmark and Greenland are notified.
