JD Vance, family and friends Greenland spectacle, a dangerous American farce in Arctic proportions by Edoardo Moretti

There is an ancient Greek proverb that warns against adding fuel to the fire, but apparently, no one in the Vance household has ever heard of it. In a move that defies both logic and basic diplomatic decorum, Vice President JD Vance, instead of attempting to smooth things over following his wife’s already inexplicable and incendiary visit to Greenland, decided that the best course of action was to double down on the provocation. Yes, because if there’s anything that American foreign policy has consistently excelled at, it’s trampling into situations where it is neither welcome nor wanted, waving the flag of “freedom” while carrying a diplomatic sledgehammer.

For those of us who still cling to the faint hope that there might be some semblance of competence left in Washington, this was another hard slap of reality. To be clear, JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, has no official role in the administration, no foreign policy experience, and no plausible reason to be gallivanting around Greenland like a colonial-era explorer looking for a new land to claim. But why stop at one diplomatic blunder when you can make it a family affair? Enter JD Vance, deciding that the only way to respond to the understandable outrage from both Greenland and the Danish government was to march straight into the controversy himself.

This, of course, is the latest instalment of the ever-fascinating American tradition of treating foreign nations like they exist for Washington’s amusement. Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly made it clear that they are not interested in being treated as an extension of American geopolitical chess games, and yet here we are, with the vice president of the United States playing tour guide for his wife’s absurd Arctic expedition. What exactly was the purpose of these visits? No one seems to know. The administration, as always, offers the usual vague, saccharine statements about “strengthening ties” and “mutual cooperation,” but those are just the customary euphemisms for “we are here to remind you who calls the shots.”

Let’s be honest: The United States has never really understood diplomacy when it comes to smaller nations. Greenland, with its strategic Arctic location and growing geopolitical importance, has been eyed by Washington with the same attitude a real estate mogul eyes an unclaimed plot of land. Remember when Donald Trump floated the idea of buying Greenland? That little gem of international tact was met with well-deserved derision, yet here we are again, watching another administration bumble its way into Danish-Greenlandic affairs under the guise of friendly engagement. It’s as if Washington is incapable of grasping the simple concept that some countries and yes, Greenland is politically autonomous are not particularly thrilled about being treated like America’s backyard.

And let’s talk about Usha Vance for a moment. What exactly is her role in all of this? Officially, nothing. Unofficially, she is playing the part of the diplomatic irritant, injecting herself into international matters with all the grace of an elephant in a porcelain shop. This isn’t just about one misguided visit; it’s about the larger issue of political spouses in the U.S. feeling entitled to act as unelected envoys, wielding influence without accountability. It’s a trend that has become far too common, and in this case, it has resulted in a diplomatic debacle that could have been easily avoided.

Of course, JD Vance’s decision to wade into the mess only makes it worse. What was he hoping to achieve? If the goal was to make a bad situation even more embarrassing for the United States, then mission accomplished. If the goal was to show solidarity with his wife’s ill-advised Arctic adventure, then perhaps the vice president should reconsider his priorities. Because what he has actually managed to do is reinforce the long-standing perception that the U.S. sees itself as above diplomatic norms, that it can barge into any situation, ignore local sentiment, and expect everyone to simply smile and nod.

The irony here is that this isn’t even a uniquely Republican problem. American foreign policy, regardless of the party in power, has always operated on the assumption that everyone else should simply accommodate Washington’s whims. The sheer arrogance of it is breathtaking. One would think that after decades of diplomatic blunders, miscalculations, and outright fiascos, someone in the U.S. government might have learned a lesson or two about respecting sovereign nations. But alas, here we are, watching yet another administration fumble its way through another pointless controversy.

The Danish and Greenlandic governments, to their credit, have handled this with far more patience than Washington deserves. But make no mistake: This will not be forgotten. The next time the U.S. comes knocking and expects goodwill, they may find that the door is not so easily opened. And perhaps, just perhaps, it’s time for American leaders to realize that not every corner of the world is theirs to meddle in.

In the meantime, if JD Vance and his wife are so enamoured with Greenland, maybe they should just stay there. It would certainly do American diplomacy a favour.


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