Featured Image Credit: MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Getty
Topics: Donald Trump, World News
Emma Rosemurgey
Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede has had a few things to say about the planned visit from US senior officials Mike Waltz and Chris Wright, as well as Second Lady Usha Vance.
Waltz, who is President Trump's national security advisor, and energy secretary Wright will be setting foot into Greenland early this week.
But that's not all as Second Lady Usha Vance is also taking a separate trip to the territory on Thursday (March 27). According to The White House (via The Independent), Vance's trip is simply to 'visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race'.
White House national security spokesperson, Brian Hughes, further said that they are 'confident that this visit presents an opportunity to build on partnerships that respects Greenland's self-determination and advances economic cooperation', Sky News reports.
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However, Egede doesn't seem to think so.
Instead, he characterized the move as being 'highly aggressive', and when speaking to Greenland’s Sermitsiaq newspaper, he said: "We are now at a level where it can in no way be characterized as a harmless visit from a politician's wife.
"What is the national security adviser doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us. He is Trump's confidential and closest advisor, and his presence in Greenland alone will certainly make the Americans believe in Trump's mission, and the pressure will increase after the visit."
He continued that they'd tried 'all diplomatic and democratic options' when it came to the US, however, he said the POTUS's goal is 'to own and control Greenland' - so time is of the essence.
"Every minute counts to ensure that the Americans' dream of annexing our country does not become a reality." he added.
When asked about the meaning of Vance's visit in a cabinet meeting, however, Trump said it was 'friendliness, not provocation', ABC News reports.
UNILAD has contacted the White House for comment.
It comes after Trump has made repeated threats to annex Greenland, which currently presides as an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, insisting the US needs ownership 'for international security, not just national security'.
However, Greenland has made their response on this matter pretty clear.
Despite both the Danish government and the Greenlandic government both insisting that Greenland is not up for sale, Trump still maintains he thinks he will succeed.
Speaking to reporters alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, he said: "I think it’ll happen. A boat landed there 200 years ago or something.
"And they say they have rights to it. I don’t know if that’s true. I don’t think it is, actually."
Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr, also visited Greenland in January of this year, before quickly departing the very same day.
He later took to social media where he boasted about his 'incredible experience,' telling his followers: "By the way, they love America here. They love America. They love Trump."