Why are people talking about the US Vice-President visiting Greenland?

US Vice-President JD Vance and his wife Usha

US Vice-President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, are planning to visit Greenland on Friday.

The White House says the couple will visit the Pituffik Space Base, where they will meet members of the American military who work there.

Officials in Greenland have said they are unhappy about the vice-president's visit because of things US President Donald Trump has said about Greenland, suggesting that the island should become part of the United States.

Greenland, the world's biggest island, is about 1,500 miles north west of the UK. It's a territory of Denmark which, along with the United States, has military bases there.

Why is JD Vance visiting Greenland?

The vice-president's wife, Usha, was planning a cultural visit to Greenland on her own this week, but now Mr Vance has decided to join her.

In a video posted on social media platform X, JD Vance said there was a lot of excitement around his wife's trip and that he is joining her because he "didn't want her to have all that fun by herself".

He said the visit to the military installation was to check on the island's security, as "a lot of other countries have threatened Greenland, have threatened to use its territories and its waterways to threaten the United States, to threaten Canada, and of course, to threaten the people of Greenland".

He added that the Trump administration wants to strengthen "the security of the people of Greenland" and that the United States and Denmark have ignored it for "far too long".

The Pituffik Space Base that JD Vance and his wife are visiting, is located in the north-west of Greenland and supports missile warning systems, air defence and space surveillance missions.

The US has had a military presence on Greenland since World War Two.

What has Donald Trump said about Greenland?

US President Donald Trump was elected in November, and during campaigning and after the election, he has mentioned Greenland becoming part of the United States regularly.

Mr Trump said US control of Greenland was essential "for national security and international security."

He has said he believes the US will eventually gain control of Greenland: "I think we're going to have it," he said.

And on Greenland's independence, he said: "If you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America."

The comments prompted Greenland's leading political parties to issue a joint statement to condemn the American president's "unacceptable behaviour".

Where is Greenland and why is the US interested in it?

Greenland is important to the US because of its location. It's in the Arctic region, which is important for military defence. The island is close to countries like Russia, so it helps the US know more about what is happening in the area.

It's a self-governing territory of Denmark, which means it's in charge of decisions like running schools and hospitals, but decisions on things such as foreign relations and defence are made by Denmark.

About 56,000 people live there, mostly indigenous Inuit people.

About 80% of its territory is covered by ice, meaning most people live on the south-western coast around the capital, Nuuk.

According to recent polls, almost 80% of Greenlanders want independence from Denmark. But an opinion survey in January suggested a larger number do not want to become part of the US.

What has been the reaction from leaders of Denmark and Greenland?

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said Greenland is 'not for sale'

The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has accused the US of putting "unacceptable pressure" on Greenland.

Denmark has controlled the island for about 300 years and the Danish PM has said that it's up to Greenland to decide its own future, adding that the territory is "not for sale".

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, the person expected to be Greenland's next prime minister has called the visit 'disrespectful'

Greenland is currently in the process of negotiations to form a new government following recent elections.

Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Demokraatit party which had big wins in Greenland's elections earlier this month, has called the visit during this period 'disrespectful'.

"The fact that the Americans know we are in the middle of negotiations - yet they still take the opportunity to come to Greenland, once again shows a lack of respect for the Greenlandic people," he said.

Speaking about the planned visit, Greenland's current Prime Minister, Múte Bourup Egede, has accused Washington of "foreign interference".

President Trump responded by saying, "People from Greenland are asking us to go there".

Greenland's government added: "For the record, the Greenlandic government has not issued any invitations for visits, either official or private."