Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede on Monday asked the United States to “respect” the Danish autonomous territory‘s democracy, ahead of a visit by US second lady Usha Vance and National Security Adviser (NSA) Mike Waltz.
“It should be said clearly that our integrity and democracy must be respected without foreign interference. The visit cannot be seen just as a private one,” Egede said.
The White House announced on Sunday that Vance, spouse of US vice president JD Vance, will be in Greenland from Thursday to Saturday with her son and a US delegation, which includes NSA Waltz, among others.
Since returning to power in January, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted he wants the United States to “take over” Greenland and even refused to rule out the use of force to achieve the aim.
On this, Egede said Washington had been told there would be “no talks” until Greenland’s new government was in place after the March 11 general election that left him heading a caretaker government.
“We must stand together and stand up against unacceptable treatment. Because we are the ones who decide our own future,” he added.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s likely future prime minister as leader of the centre-right Democrats who won the election, has previously criticised Trump’s moves on Greenland as “inappropriate”.
The Danish territory holds massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, although oil and uranium exploration are banned.
According to surveys, most Greenlanders support independence from Denmark but oppose annexation by Washington.
