Wife of US Vice President Vance to make high-profile visit to Greenland

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) - Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, will travel to Greenland on Thursday as President Donald Trump clings to the idea of a U.S. annexation of the strategic, semi-autonomous Danish territory.

She will visit Greenland with a U.S. delegation to tour historical sites, learn about the territory's heritage and attend the national dogsled race, the White House said in a statement. The delegation will return to the U.S. on March 29.

White House national security advisor Mike Waltz and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will visit a U.S. military base in Greenland as part of the trip, a U.S. official said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump has made U.S. annexation of Greenland a major talking point since taking office for a second time on January 20. Greenland's strategic location and rich mineral resources could benefit the U.S. It lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the U.S. ballistic missile warning system.

The governments of both Greenland and Denmark have voiced opposition to such a move.

The Greenlandic government, which currently is in a caretaker period after a March 11 general election won by a party that favors a slow approach to independence from Denmark, did not reply to requests for comments.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a written comment reacting to news of the visit that "this is something we take seriously." She said Denmark wants to cooperate with the U.S., but it should be cooperation based on "the fundamental rules of sovereignty."

She added that the dialogue with the U.S. regarding Greenland would take place in close coordination with the Danish government and the future Greenlandic government.