Naalakkersuisut, the Greenlandic government, is now in a caretaker phase following a Mar 11 parliamentary election won by the Democrats, a pro-business party that favours a slow approach to independence from Denmark.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Democrats, called for political unity and criticized the timing of the US visit during coalition talks with municipal elections due next week.
“We must not be forced into a power game that we ourselves have not chosen to be a part of,” Nielsen said on Monday.
Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said the visit aimed to “build on partnerships that respect Greenland’s self-determination and advance economic cooperation”.
“This is a visit to learn about Greenland, its culture, history, and people and to attend a dogsled race the United States is proud to sponsor, plain and simple,” Hughes said.
