The battle fori Greenland intensifies as Denmark’s PM visits island

The battle over Greenland is set to intensify this week as Denmark’s prime minister travels to the Arctic island just days after U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited and lambasted the Scandinavian country for neglecting the vast territory.

The Danish government announced at the weekend that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will visit Greenland from Wednesday to Friday. Her visit comes amid continuing U.S. interest in the island, which U.S. President Donald Trump has said should become a part of the U.S.

During her visit, Frederiksen will “discuss the cooperation between Greenland and Denmark” with the island’s new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the Danish government said.

“I look forward to continuing the close and trusting cooperation between Greenland and Denmark together with Jens-Frederik Nielsen and the rest of the Government of Greenland,” Frederkisen commented ahead of the trip.

“Greenland has just been through a good democratic process and formed a broad government. It is important for me to visit and greet the future Chairman of the Government of Greenland as soon as possible,” she said, referring to a snap election earlier in March.

The vote, which was contested by mainly pro-independence parties, saw the pro-business Democrats win the largest share of the seats in the 31-seat parliament, the Inatsisartut.

The party favors a gradual process of independence from Denmark, but new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has reiterated comments made by his predecessor that the island “is not and will never be for sale.”

Greenland’s pro-independence sentiment means overseer Denmark has to tread carefully when it comes to the island’s future, although it will have been cheered by a recent poll showing a vast majority of Greenlanders did not want the island to leave Denmark and become a part of the U.S.

Danish leader Frederiksen said the island has her “deepest respect” over how its people and politicians were handling what she described as “the great pressure” from the U.S.’ repeated attempts to court the rare earths and mineral-rich island.

“It is a situation that calls for unity across political parties. Across the countries in the Danish Realm. And on cooperation in a respectful and equal way,” Frederiksen remarked.

While Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, it has historical ties to the U.S., housing American military installations since WWII.

Growing geopolitical competition in the Arctic between Russia, China and the U.S. has also bolstered the appeal of the island, which lies on potentially highly lucrative shipping routes through the Arctic Ocean.