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Vice President J.D. Vance’s planned trip to Greenland with Second Lady Usha Vance has shifted focus amid diplomatic tensions, with the couple now set to visit Pituffik Space Base instead of attending a previously scheduled dogsled race.

The change in plans follows sharp criticism from Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede, who expressed strong disapproval of the U.S. delegation’s visit, which includes National Security Advisor Michael Walz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

“It should be said clearly that our integrity and democracy must be respected without foreign interference,” Egede said in a post on Facebook.

Speaking to Greenlandic daily Sermitiaq, Egede emphasized that “the only purpose of the visit was a demonstration of power, and the signal should not be misunderstood.”

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen echoed these concerns, describing the American interest as “inappropriate” during an interview with TV2. Rasmussen highlighted the sensitive timing of the visit, noting Greenland’s recent elections and current caretaker government status.

The White House maintains that Pituffik Space Base, the Department of Defense’s northernmost installation, plays a crucial role in missile warning, defense, and space surveillance missions. The administration emphasized the historical significance of U.S.-Greenland relations, dating back to World War Two when America established multiple military bases to protect the North Atlantic region.

President Trump recently addressed Congress regarding Greenland, stating: “And I also have a message tonight for the incredible people of Greenland. We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and, if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America.

We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we’re working with everybody involved to try and get it. But we need it, really, for international world security. And I think we’re going to get it. One way or the other, we’re going to get it.

We will keep you safe. We will make you rich. And together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.

It’s a very small population but very, very large piece of land and very, very important for military security.”

The strategic base, operated by the United States Space Force’s 821st Space Base Group, remains operational year-round despite being ice-bound for nine months annually. The facility serves as a crucial vantage point for space superiority operations and maintains significant surveillance capabilities through its solid-state phased-array radar system.