Denmark on Wednesday welcomed a U.S. decision to confine a planned visit to Greenland to a military base after the plans triggered a spat between Copenhagen and the White House amid President Donald Trump's interest in taking over the island.
Denmark's prime minister said on Tuesday that a scheduled visit by Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, to a popular dog-sled race in Greenland this week was part of an "unacceptable pressure" on the semi-autonomous Danish territory.
The White House on Tuesday announced that the delegation would instead be headed by JD Vance himself, but that it would only visit the U.S. Space Base at Pituffik in northern Greenland and not the dog-sled race, a big annual sporting event.
"I think it's very positive that the Americans cancelled their visit to the Greenlandic society. Instead, they will visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told broadcaster DR.
Polls have shown that nearly all Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the United States, and anti-American protesters, some wearing 'Make America Go Away' caps and holding 'Yankees go home' banners, have recently staged some of the largest demonstrations ever seen in Greenland.
Similar protests had been planned in connection with the Vance's visit.
DE-ESCALATION
The change of plans was seen as a de-escalation of the diplomatic dispute.
Ole Waever, professor at the University of Copenhagen, said there had been widespread concerns about "a soft power operation and creeping American infiltration" that many Greenlanders had found threatening.
"The credit for the positive turn must be given to Greenland ... Caps off to them for that," he said, referring to the planned protests.
Marc Jacobsen, associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, also said the changes were a relief.
"It seems they have misread the mood in Greenland," he said.
The organisers of the dog-sled race said in a statement on Wednesday that they had received grants from the American consulate in Nuuk.
Since Donald Trump Jr.'s private visit to the mineral-rich island in January, Trump has consistently talked of annexing Greenland and urged its residents to join the United States.
One of two U.S. Hercules military transport planes that arrived in Nuuk late on Sunday with bulletproof vehicles onboard has left Nuuk airport, FlightRadar data showed.
Greenland's acting head of government, Mute Egede, had labelled the visit a "provocation," as it coincides with government coalition talks following a recent parliamentary election as well as municipal elections due next week.
Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said on Tuesday the delegation aimed to "learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people."
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has disputed the notion of a private visit with official representatives and has repeatedly said that Greenland should determine its own future.
Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede has also stressed that the island is not for sale and that it is up to its people to decide their future.
Greenland is strategically important for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, since the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island.
A 1951 agreement between the United States and Denmark established a U.S. right to move around freely and construct military bases in Greenland as long as Denmark and Greenland are notified.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered air traffic controllers back to work amid record flight cancellations and delays during the 41-day federal governm...
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States is nearing a trade deal with India, aimed at expanding economic and security ti...
The fate of food assistance for 42 million low-income Americans remained uncertain on Monday, as ongoing legal disputes continued to cloud the future ...
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday to discuss improving bilateral relations and addressing ...
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday officially declared open the 15th National Games of the People’s Republic of China, marking the start of the ...
Denmark did not invite the U.S. military to take part in Arctic Light 2025, the largest military exercise in Greenland's modern history, as NATO allies step up defence cooperation in the Arctic amid U.S. interest in the island.
The U.S. has reaffirmed Greenland’s right to decide its own future after reports emerged that private Americans linked to Donald Trump tried to sway political sentiment in the Arctic territory.
Denmark has publicly apologized to Greenland over the administration of birth control on its girls and women over decades as part of plans to fend off growing U.S. interest in the mineral-rich island.
Denmark’s Arctic chief has dismissed concerns over a U.S. takeover of Greenland but says more must be done to deter any Russian attack on the strategically vital Arctic island.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin has launched NASA’s twin ESCAPADE satellites to Mars on Sunday, marking the second flight of its New Glenn rocket, a mission seen as a crucial test of the company’s reusability ambitions and a fresh challenge to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Two trains crashed in Slovakia on Sunday evening after one ran into the back of the other, injuring dozens of passengers, police and the country's interior minister said.
Real Madrid, top of LaLiga, is determined to bounce back from their midweek Champions League loss against Liverpool as they face local rivals Rayo Vallecano. Coach Xabi Alonso insists the team is focused on finishing strong before the international break.
Elon Musk’s bold vision for the future of technology doesn’t stop at reshaping space exploration or electric cars. The Neuralink brain-chip technology he introduced in 2020 could mark the end of smartphones as we know them, and his recent statements amplify this futuristic idea.
China has announced exemptions to its export controls on Nexperia chips intended for civilian use, the commerce ministry said on Sunday, a move aimed at easing supply shortages affecting carmakers and automotive suppliers.
The UN said Monday that Israeli restrictions continue to block the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, a month after the ceasefire took effect.
TRNC President Tufan Erhurman will visit Türkiye on November 13, 2025, his first trip abroad since taking office, to discuss Türkiye-TRNC relations and the Cyprus issue. Thursday talks to focus on Cyprus issue, bilateral relations in all aspects, says Türkiye’s communications director.
Number of reported hate crimes has risen steadily each year since around 2020, according to Police University College. Finland has seen a record number of hate crimes so far in 2025, with nearly 70% of the crime reports filed motivated by the victims' ethnic or national background.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered air traffic controllers back to work amid record flight cancellations and delays during the 41-day federal government shutdown, warning penalties for absences and promising rewards for those who stayed on duty.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States is nearing a trade deal with India, aimed at expanding economic and security ties, boosting U.S. energy exports, and promoting investments in key sectors.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment