Danish PM to visit Greenland next week amid US tensions

Frederiksen will begin a three-day tour on April 2, during which she will meet with Greenland’s new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and members of his coalition government.

The trip follows US Vice President JD Vance's visit to a US military base in the northwestern part of the country on Friday. On that day, he reiterated statements accusing Denmark of being a poor ally to Greenland. He also echoed President Donald Trump’s claim that the island is vital to US national security. However, the vast majority of people oppose Greenland's annexation by the US.

"I have the deepest respect for how the Greenlandic people and Greenlandic politicians are handling the great pressure on Greenland. The situation calls for unity across political parties; across the countries in the commonwealth; and for cooperation in a respectful and equal manner," Frederiksen emphasized.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also opposed US plans for the island, stating that Greenland "deserves partners that respect them and treat them as equals."

"We stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark. We strongly support their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and their right to chart their own course," she said in an interview with Corriere della Sera.

Notably, Greenland has been part of the Kingdom of Denmark for centuries, but since 1979, it has had its own government. Most Greenlandic political parties strive for full independence from Denmark, though they differ on the timing of this goal.