Citizens of Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, watched anxiously as two large Hercules planes from the American military touched down at the local airport this Sunday. The aircraft carried high-ranking American regime officials, staffers, and black armored SUVs. Officially, the Americans claim they are merely visiting to observe the annual Avannaata Qimussersua dog sled races sponsored by the local U.S. consulate, a cover story so flimsy it bordered on mockery. The delegation’s true agenda became undeniable days later when Vice President J.D. Vance announced via Twitter that he would join his wife, “second lady” Usha Vance, in Greenland on Friday, declaring his intent to “strengthen security for the Greenlandic people.”

“Many other countries have threatened Greenland and sought to use its territory to threaten the U.S., Canada, and of course the Greenlandic people,” Vance stated in a video, framing the visit as a protective mission. His rhetoric, paired with the abrupt escalation of the delegation’s seniority, has sparked alarm. Danish media is calling the Vance visit a “diplomatic declaration of war” and noting how unprecedented it is for s vice president to visit another country when he has verb explicitly told to stay away.

The delegation already present in Greenland includes U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and “second lady” Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President J.D. Vance. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is rumored to be joining later. Their presence, uninvited and coming at a politically sensitive moment as Greenland’s parliament is negotiating a new governing coalition, is viewed as a direct challenge to Danish sovereignty over Greenland.

Danish leader: “President Trump is Serious. He Wants Greenland.”

Danish leader Mette Frederiksen has finally found her spine after months of cowering in Trump’s shadow and has responded with her strongest rhetoric to date. In a recent interview, she made it clear that this visit cannot be viewed in isolation from the American supreme leader’s repeated statements about wanting control over Greenland.

“President Trump is serious, and he is determined. He wants Greenland,” Frederiksen stated. “This visit is not about what Greenland needs or wants. No matter how you frame it, this is an entirely unacceptable form of pressure—not just on Greenland and its leaders, but on Denmark and the entire Kingdom.”

Frederiksen’s remarks mark a significant rhetorical escalation compared to her previously cautious stance. Critics like Pelle Dragsted from the Red-Greens, a pro-democracy opposition party, argue the shift is overdue: “The government has tried the other approach for months: Showing restraint and speaking Trump’s language. It hasn’t worked. Quite contrary. The US keeps repeating these very disrespectful and insane plans to take over Greenland”. Dragsted argues that the cautious approach is being seen as a sign of weakness by Washington and that a more firm line is necessary.

However, while Frederiksen’s words are strong, her government’s inability to resist the American Trump regime’s provocations is glaring. A chartered plane full of Danish cops has been sent to Greenland, not to deport the unwelcome visitors but merely to maintain order while the Trump circus is in town.

Denmark remains firmly integrated in the American world order as a vassal of Washington, and Copenhagen finds itself trapped between maintaining its long-standing subservient role as a loyal U.S. vassal and responding to the most direct challenge to Danish territorial integrity since World War II.

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen also voiced his disapproval, calling the American visit a “charm offensive” designed to pull Greenland further into Washington’s orbit. “There is no appetite for this in Greenland or the Kingdom of Denmark,” he stated. However, Denmark’s options for resistance appear slim, leaving the visit as a humiliating episode in the country’s relations with its increasingly aggressive overlord.

Greenlandic PM: “An Unacceptable Lack of Respect”

Greenland’s acting Prime Minister, Múte B. Egede, has repeatedly stressed that neither his transitional government nor Denmark invited the delegation and he asks all nations to respect the ongoing Greenlandic coalition talks.

Egede also issued a desperate call for urgent international support, stating, “It has not helped for Greenland to stand together. It has not helped to say no. Diplomatic attempts have failed. Now the international community must act.”

However, it remains unclear who would have the power and interest to tell the American regime to leave Greenland alone.

His comments reflect growing anxiety among Greenlanders about the Trump administration’s aggressive approach. Greenlanders fear that Washington’s interest in their nation is not just economic or strategic, but territorial.

Besides a few local Quislings, Greenlandic society is virtually unanimous in rejecting the American schemes. As shown by the recent election, the discussion in Greenlandic politics is no longer whether the nation should be independent but rather how soon it should be independent. Greenlanders are Greenlanders, they are not Danes, and they are sure as hell not Americans. They know that the moment Washington sinks its claws into their land, any dream of independence is dead in the water.

Denmark’s Powerlessness on Display

Reports in the media suggest that Frederiksen’s Social Democrat-led right-wing regime is panicking over the crisis, scrambling to expend all their diplomatic resources to diffuse the crisis.

Meanwhile, in Danish media the American provocations in Greenland are being compared to the build-up to Crimea’s admission to the Russian Federation in 2014. Terminally online conservative MP Rasmus Jarlov has taken a break from foaming over the reactionary grievance du jour and has taken to Twitter to demand the immediate closure of the U.S. consulate in Nuuk. He writes: “No other countries would accept people who have openly declared that they are there to annex part of the country”. He goes on to demand the immediate closure of the consulate to keep “saboteurs and fifth columnists” out.

The arrival of the U.S. delegation represents a stark demonstration of Denmark’s inability to enforce its sovereignty in Greenland. Despite Frederiksen’s strong words, the Danish government did not prevent the visit. Greenland, while officially an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has effectively been under American military occupation since a 1951 defense agreement and remains dependent on America for protection. This dependence severely limits Denmark’s ability to challenge Washington’s actions.

The current situation underscores a broader shift in U.S.-European relations under Trump’s second presidency. Traditionally, Western European nations like Denmark have enjoyed a privileged status within the American-led international order. Their ruling elites, deeply entrenched in Atlanticist ideology, were accustomed to a relatively cooperative relationship with Washington. However, Trump’s renewed push to annex Greenland signals a shift and an abandonment of polite liberal niceties towards Europe—Western European allies are no longer treated as partners, but as subjects to be pressured, coerced, and exploited, much like other regions under U.S. influence.

For years, European leaders have comforted themselves with the illusion that they are partners of the United States. This trip to Nuuk is a reminder that they are not partners. They are property. And when the landlord comes knocking, there’s not a damn thing they can do to stop him.