President Trump defended the decision to send a US delegation to Greenland on Monday, saying Danish territorial officials invited Greenland Prime Minister Mute Boulup Egede after calling the visit “very aggressive.”
When asked by reporters to further explain the goal of sending Second Lady Ushavance and other US officials there after leaders from Greenland criticised the visit, Trump said the visit was “not a provocation.”
“This is not provocation, it's familiarity. We deal with a lot of people in Greenland who want to see something happen when it comes to being properly protected and being cared for properly. They're calling us. We haven't called them, and we've been invited there.
The president called her “glorious,” saying that the second woman “loves the concept of Greenland,” adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would also visit Danish territory.
“But we were invited, they're a bit abandoned, so they really like the idea.
“That's important from an international security perspective. And if you look at the ships outside of Greenland, you see that there are Russia, China, there are many different people and different places, and that can't go. We won't make a statement.
When asked who invited the delegation from Greenland, the president said, “A lot of people… people in Greenland are asking us to come here. We have a lot of requests from a lot of people, a lot of people, some officials.”
Trump has repeatedly emphasized his desire to acquire a mineral-rich Greenland, which is autonomous for national security reasons. He did so despite pushbacks from both Danish and European Union officials.
The White House announced on Sunday that Usha Vance will “visit historic locations, learn about Greenland's heritage and participate in the Avannata Qimussus, the Greenland national dog breed race.”
Additionally, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and national security adviser Mike Waltz are expected to join the vice president's wife on the trip.
Egae saidGreenland's newspaper Sermitsiaq warned on Sunday that “the level cannot be raised because of the extremely aggressive American pressure on Greenland society is so severe,” the warning that it can be “over our country.”
She also appeared to have certain issues with the participation of the waltz.
“What is the national security advisor doing in Greenland? Our only purpose is to show us strength,” Eged said. “His mere presence in Greenland will undoubtedly burn American belief in Trump's mission, and the pressure will rise.”
