Usha Vance, the wife of US Vice President J.D. Vance, will visit Greenland on Thursday, amid US President Donald Trump's proposed annexation of the strategic semi-autonomous Danish territory, Reuters and the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
She will visit Greenland with a US delegation to visit historical sites, learn about the territory's historical heritage and attend the national dog sled race, the White House said in a statement.
The delegation will return to the United States on March 29.
White House National Security Adviser Mike Walz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will visit a US military base in Greenland as part of the trip, the US said. official.
Trump has floated the idea of the US annexing Greenland since taking office for a second time on January 20. Greenland's strategic location and rich mineral resources could be of benefit to the US. The territory lies on the shortest route from Europe to North America, which is vital for the US ballistic missile early warning system, Reuters notes.
The regional government of Greenland and the central government of Denmark have opposed such a move.
The regional government, which continues to hold office after a March 11 parliamentary election won by a party that supports gradual independence from Denmark, did not respond to requests for comment.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a written statement in response to news of the visit that "this is something we take seriously". She stressed that Denmark wants to cooperate with the United States, but this cooperation must be based on compliance with the "basic rules of sovereignty".
She added that the dialogue with the United States regarding Greenland will be carried out in close coordination with the future Greenlandic government.
Last week, all five parties in the Greenlandic parliament issued a joint statement rejecting Trump's demands, the AP recalls. Denmark has recognized Greenland's right to declare independence at a time of its choosing.
In addition to focusing on Greenland, Trump refused to rule out military intervention in Panama to regain the Panama Canal, said that Canada should be America's 51st state and suggested that the United States take control of the war-torn Gaza Strip and redevelop it as a Riviera-like seaside resort.