Greenland ice Photo: VCG

A high-profile US delegation will visit Greenland this week to visit an American military base and watch a dogsled race as President Donald Trump promotes the idea of a US annexation of the strategic, semi-autonomous Danish territory. This move has faced both opposition from Greenland and Denmark governments, according to a report by Reuters.

Usha Vance, wife of US Vice President JD Vance, will travel to Greenland with her son and a US delegation to visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Greenland's national dogsled race, according to a statement by the White House. The delegation includes White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, according to Reuters.

Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said that the US team is "confident that this visit presents an opportunity to build on partnerships that respects Greenland's self determination and advances economic cooperation," per Reuters.

"This is a visit to learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people and to attend a dogsled race the United States is proud to sponsor, plain and simple," Hughes said.

However, on the same day, the prime minister of Greenland, Mute B. Egede, said that Greenlanders' effort to be diplomatic just "bounces off Donald Trump and his administration in their mission to own and control Greenland," according to The New York Times.

"What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland?" he asked. "The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us." He added that "his mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump's mission — and the pressure will increase," as reported by The New York Times. 

According to Reuters, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a written comment reacting to news of the visit that "this is something we take seriously." She said Denmark wants to cooperate with the US, but it should be cooperation based on "the fundamental rules of sovereignty."

The US delegation's visit could be seen as a test to assess the situation, particularly as their itinerary includes informal engagements with local communities in addition to a visit to the military base. The aim is to garner public support, ultimately paving the way for the country's potential control over the territory, said Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, on Monday.

Since the inauguration on January 20, Trump has made the annexation of Greenland a prominent topic. Greenland's strategic location and rich mineral resources could benefit the US. It lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the US ballistic missile warning system, according to Reuters.

Other Greenlandic officials also complained about the inopportune timing of the visit, pointing out that Greenland had just held parliamentary elections and that a new government has not even been formed.

"The fact that the Americans are well aware we are in the middle of negotiations," said Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the leader of the most popular political party, "once again shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people," according to The New York Times.

From a strategic perspective, the US views Greenland as increasingly important, Lü said, adding that while the US valued the island's resources in the past, the technology to exploit them was insufficient at the time. Now, with advances in extraction capabilities, those resources can be tapped far more efficiently.

Lü also noted that the US is also increasingly focused on controlling the Arctic Ocean, as shipping routes in the region becomes more navigable, boosting its strategic importance in relation to Europe and Russia. With climate change reducing ice cover, the potential for maritime activities in the region is rising, so the US aims to gain strategic benefits at relatively low cost.

The US is increasingly approaching foreign territories as if they were its exclusive backyard — moving from seeking privileges to pursuing full control and sovereignty. At present, Greenland is clearly one of Washington's main targets, Lü said.