US’ JD Vance to join wife on Greenland visit amid rising tensions

Abdullateef Fowewe

United States Vice President JD Vance will accompany his wife, Usha Vance on her upcoming trip to Greenland later this week.

Initially, Usha’s visit was planned to include a cultural exploration of historic sites and participation in a traditional dog-sledding race, a highlight of the trip that captured the attention of many.

However, a last-minute change to the itinerary has been announced by the White House.

The dog-sledding race, a longstanding tradition in Greenland, has been cancelled and replaced with a high-level meeting with U.S. military officials stationed in the region.

The adjustment reflects a shift toward prioritizing security and strategic discussions during the visit, signaling the importance of military relations in the Arctic region.

While the change may disappoint some who were looking forward to the cultural aspects of the trip, the updated focus underscores the US Government’s ongoing attention to Arctic security and military presence.

He said in a video shared on his X (formally Twitter) handle, on Wednesday, “There is so much excitement around Usha’s visit to Greenland this Friday that I decided I didn’t want her to have all that fun by herself, so I’m going to join her.

“I’ll be visiting some of our guardians in the Space Force on the northwest coast of Greenland, and also just checking out what’s going on with the security there.”

He thereby highlighted the Pituffik Space Base, a key U.S. military facility located in Greenland.